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 | Harvard University | 5900 | 95600 | 0.9384 | 8,844 | 1535 | 0.0365 | |
| 2 | Brigham Young University | 8000 | 22000 | 0.6362 | 32,952 | 1374 | 0.6778 | |
| 3 | Utah State University | 9700 | 26700 | 0.6361 | 25,706 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 4 | Savannah State University | 10600 | 26700 | 0.6037 | 2,966 | 925 | 0.4614 | |
| 5 | College of Saint Mary | 10800 | 37800 | 0.7141 | 552 | 1103 | 0.4465 | |
| 6 | Duke University | 10900 | 93600 | 0.8838 | 6,523 | 1527 | 0.0571 | |
| 7 | Georgetown University | 11200 | 92700 | 0.8792 | 7,833 | 1457 | 0.1291 | |
| 8 | University of California-San Diego | 11500 | 39700 | 0.7102 | 34,955 | 1375 | 0.2671 | |
| 9 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5879 | 6,952 | 995 | 0.9075 | |
| 10 | University of Central Florida | 12000 | 25300 | 0.525 | 59,552 | 1280 | 0.4011 | |
| 11 | Boston University | 12300 | 92800 | 0.8676 | 18,805 | 1475 | 0.1111 | |
| 12 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 13 | University of the Virgin Islands | 13100 | 26100 | 0.499 | 1,569 | 925 | 0.9898 | |
| 14 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | 13200 | 25700 | 0.4862 | 28,674 | 980 | 0.9419 | |
| 15 | Mayville State University | 13500 | 22000 | 0.387 | 1,067 | 1034 | 0.7123 | |
| 15 | University of Delaware | 13500 | 34500 | 0.6079 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 17 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 18 | University of Georgia | 13700 | 26600 | 0.4854 | 32,399 | 1382 | 0.377 | |
| 19 | Wesleyan College | 14000 | 43800 | 0.6802 | 496 | 1065 | 0.591 | |
| 20 | Grand Valley State University | 14100 | 25300 | 0.4432 | 19,002 | 1084 | 0.8302 | |
| 21 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 22 | Central Michigan University | 14400 | 37800 | 0.6183 | 10,193 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 23 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 17,432 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 24 | Northwest Missouri State University | 15100 | 37700 | 0.6009 | 5,241 | 1095 | 0.8609 | |
| 25 | Talladega College | 15400 | 26900 | 0.4276 | 701 | 970 | 0.8542 | |
| 26 | University of Central Oklahoma | 15500 | 28700 | 0.46 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 27 | Weber State University | 16000 | 23600 | 0.3216 | 31,672 | 0 | 0 | |
| 28 | Grove City College | 16400 | 39700 | 0.5876 | 2,341 | 1266 | 0.7232 | |
| 28 | SUNY College at Potsdam | 16400 | 27600 | 0.406 | 2,111 | 1060 | 0.777 | |
| 30 | Eastern Michigan University | 16500 | 36100 | 0.5429 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 30 | University of Maine | 16500 | 29300 | 0.4371 | 9,601 | 1205 | 0.9664 | |
| 30 | West Virginia University | 16500 | 40900 | 0.5963 | 18,206 | 1125 | 0.89 | |
| 33 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6305 | 1,030 | 1093 | 0.8982 | |
| 34 | Ferris State University | 17000 | 31000 | 0.4523 | 8,991 | 1015 | 0.9139 | |
| 34 | Winona State University | 17000 | 23000 | 0.2595 | 5,317 | 1115 | 0.7549 | |
| 36 | Salem State University | 17500 | 28500 | 0.3859 | 4,867 | 1075 | 0.9588 | |
| 37 | University of Miami | 17700 | 95700 | 0.8149 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 38 | Tougaloo College | 17800 | 34200 | 0.4794 | 1,286 | 985 | 0.5985 | |
| 38 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 40 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 40 | Northern State University | 18000 | 27200 | 0.3383 | 3,169 | 1075 | 0.93 | |
| 40 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 18000 | 39000 | 0.5379 | 37,985 | 1390 | 0.5815 | |
| 43 | State University of New York at Oswego | 18200 | 27700 | 0.3428 | 5,517 | 1180 | 0.8055 | |
| 44 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.428 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 45 | University of Nevada-Reno | 19200 | 28200 | 0.3189 | 19,117 | 1134 | 0.7371 | |
| 45 | University of Rhode Island | 19200 | 33900 | 0.4337 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 47 | Texas A&M University-College Station | 19400 | 29900 | 0.3535 | 60,710 | 1278 | 0.5743 | |
| 48 | Carlow University | 19500 | 57800 | 0.6627 | 1,355 | 1065 | 0.8695 | |
| 48 | Saint Xavier University | 19500 | 53300 | 0.6329 | 3,098 | 1050 | 0.843 | |
| 50 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 50 | McMurry University | 19600 | 51900 | 0.6219 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 50 | SUNY Oneonta | 19600 | 29300 | 0.331 | 4,681 | 1234 | 0.696 | |
| 53 | Bethel University | 19800 | 54500 | 0.6363 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 53 | La Sierra University | 19800 | 65900 | 0.6992 | 1,226 | 1025 | 0.915 | |
| 55 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19900 | 72100 | 0.7238 | 3,007 | 1155 | 0.9305 | |
| 56 | Daemen University | 20000 | 55100 | 0.6371 | 1,653 | 1050 | 0.6826 | |
| 56 | University of Southern California | 20000 | 75900 | 0.7369 | 20,630 | 1492 | 0.0981 | |
| 58 | Minot State University | 20100 | 23500 | 0.1448 | 2,499 | 1075 | 0.6462 | |
| 59 | Hampshire College | 20500 | 83900 | 0.756 | 844 | 1254 | 0.7528 | |
| 59 | Malone University | 20500 | 57100 | 0.6414 | 992 | 1075 | 0.7586 | |
| 61 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 20600 | 42900 | 0.5204 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6579 | |
| 62 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 20700 | 30600 | 0.326 | 44,819 | 1327 | 0.4987 | |
| 63 | Florida College | 20800 | 34200 | 0.3921 | 728 | 1099 | 0.6966 | |
| 63 | North Dakota State University | 20800 | 25700 | 0.1898 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 65 | State University of New York at New Paltz | 21400 | 26300 | 0.1865 | 6,862 | 1260 | 0.6161 | |
| 66 | Piedmont University | 21500 | 47200 | 0.5445 | 1,159 | 1130 | 0.9328 | |
| 67 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | 21700 | 52700 | 0.5886 | 1,041 | 1040 | 0.5687 | |
| 68 | Niagara University | 21800 | 57400 | 0.62 | 2,692 | 1160 | 0.8737 | |
| 69 | Brigham Young University-Hawaii | 22600 | 25400 | 0.1104 | 2,906 | 1125 | 0.4696 | |
| 70 | Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | 22700 | 56900 | 0.6007 | 533 | 1244 | 0.5269 | |
| 71 | East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania | 22800 | 31300 | 0.2719 | 4,891 | 1095 | 0.9205 | |
| 72 | Saint Cloud State University | 22900 | 36800 | 0.3772 | 8,738 | 1079 | 0.948 | |
| 73 | San Jose State University | 23000 | 41100 | 0.4405 | 28,008 | 1124 | 0.8461 | |
| 74 | Concordia University-Chicago | 23100 | 54900 | 0.5787 | 1,368 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 75 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 76 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 23600 | 24900 | 0.0522 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 77 | Florida International University | 23700 | 23700 | 0 | 45,193 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 77 | Millikin University | 23700 | 43700 | 0.4572 | 1,495 | 1020 | 0.6668 | |
| 79 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 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 | |
| 81 | Stockton University | 24100 | 32100 | 0.2491 | 7,565 | 1135 | 0.8894 | |
| 83 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24200 | 55200 | 0.5626 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 84 | Abilene Christian University | 24300 | 59000 | 0.5877 | 3,263 | 1189 | 0.6603 | |
| 84 | Southwestern Adventist University | 24300 | 43200 | 0.4376 | 758 | 1064 | 0.7836 | |
| 86 | Unity Environmental University | 24500 | 29900 | 0.1809 | 6,507 | 0 | 0.818 | |
| 87 | Daytona State College | 24600 | 28200 | 0.1275 | 12,820 | 0 | 0 | |
| 88 | Augustana College | 24700 | 72800 | 0.6601 | 2,522 | 1163 | 0.6268 | |
| 88 | Huntingdon College | 24700 | 44400 | 0.4434 | 880 | 1130 | 0.6949 | |
| 90 | Emporia State University | 24900 | 32000 | 0.2218 | 2,396 | 1075 | 0.9771 | |
| 91 | Illinois State University | 25100 | 36400 | 0.3115 | 19,107 | 1120 | 0.8815 | |
| 91 | University of West Alabama | 25100 | 34000 | 0.2618 | 2,983 | 990 | 0.4265 | |
| 93 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 25200 | 37900 | 0.3348 | 5,661 | 1085 | 0.982 | |
| 93 | Point Park University | 25200 | 57000 | 0.5582 | 2,337 | 1140 | 0.9691 | |
| 95 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 25300 | 53800 | 0.5299 | 2,803 | 1099 | 0.9576 | |
| 96 | University of Hawaii at Hilo | 25400 | 38300 | 0.337 | 2,292 | 1005 | 0.6063 | |
| 97 | Ave Maria University | 25500 | 46600 | 0.453 | 1,301 | 1164 | 0.4139 | |
| 97 | Ball State University | 25500 | 25500 | 0 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 97 | Northern Arizona University | 25500 | 43200 | 0.41 | 22,990 | 1090 | 0.8961 | |
| 100 | Evangel University | 25700 | 40900 | 0.372 | 1,511 | 1180 | 0.7161 | |
| 101 | Messiah University | 26000 | 54300 | 0.5209 | 2,618 | 1241 | 0.7897 | |
| 101 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 26000 | 28300 | 0.0806 | 3,375 | 1090 | 0.5876 | |
| 103 | Marywood University | 26100 | 67700 | 0.6142 | 1,833 | 1160 | 0.6058 | |
| 104 | University of Mobile | 26200 | 48300 | 0.4572 | 1,308 | 1209 | 0.7789 | |
| 105 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4753 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 106 | Trine University | 26500 | 56100 | 0.5276 | 4,373 | 1159 | 0.8548 | |
| 106 | University of Southern Mississippi | 26500 | 26500 | 0 | 10,193 | 1181 | 0.9912 | |
| 108 | Troy University | 26900 | 34700 | 0.2248 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 109 | University of Jamestown | 27400 | 34400 | 0.2035 | 1,049 | 1055 | 0.8808 | |
| 110 | Florida Southern College | 27700 | 63200 | 0.5614 | 2,682 | 1264 | 0.6442 | |
| 111 | Mitchell College | 27800 | 66600 | 0.5826 | 442 | 817 | 0.9466 | |
| 111 | Saint Edward's University | 27800 | 73200 | 0.6205 | 2,499 | 1128 | 0.8142 | |
| 111 | University of North Alabama | 27800 | 37300 | 0.2547 | 7,662 | 1140 | 0.8731 | |
| 114 | Wichita State University | 27900 | 39800 | 0.3007 | 13,313 | 1073 | 0.9395 | |
| 115 | Francis Marion University | 28500 | 40200 | 0.2914 | 3,692 | 1015 | 0.8639 | |
| 116 | Bridgewater State University | 28900 | 35500 | 0.1845 | 8,270 | 1180 | 0.8781 | |
| 117 | University of Alaska Southeast | 29000 | 31300 | 0.0729 | 1,768 | 1020 | 0.6329 | |
| 118 | Pittsburg State University | 29100 | 36200 | 0.1959 | 4,472 | 1055 | 0.8942 | |
| 119 | University of Connecticut | 29200 | 37000 | 0.2106 | 20,056 | 1329 | 0.5239 | |
| 120 | Huntington University | 29300 | 44300 | 0.3384 | 1,588 | 1055 | 0.7564 | |
| 121 | Blue Mountain Christian University | 29600 | 39900 | 0.2575 | 912 | 1095 | 0.8895 | |
| 121 | Montana State University | 29600 | 31900 | 0.072 | 15,046 | 1184 | 0.8214 | |
| 123 | Southern Utah University | 29900 | 40800 | 0.2673 | 13,126 | 1140 | 0.8179 | |
| 124 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | 30000 | 42200 | 0.2889 | 15,375 | 1103 | 0.866 | |
| 125 | Maine Maritime Academy | 30100 | 33400 | 0.0989 | 945 | 1180 | 0.5414 | |
| 126 | Bryan College-Dayton | 30200 | 36000 | 0.1607 | 1,565 | 1160 | 0.5101 | |
| 127 | New Mexico State University-Main Campus | 30500 | 39200 | 0.2222 | 12,507 | 1010 | 0.8897 | |
| 128 | University of West Florida | 30600 | 38000 | 0.1946 | 9,970 | 1149 | 0.5824 | |
| 129 | Jacksonville University | 30800 | 74200 | 0.5847 | 2,946 | 1195 | 0.5694 | |
| 130 | California State University-Long Beach | 30900 | 38900 | 0.2058 | 36,082 | 1135 | 0.4627 | |
| 130 | McPherson College | 30900 | 51400 | 0.3987 | 876 | 1075 | 0.7676 | |
| 132 | University of California-Santa Barbara | 31000 | 59100 | 0.4752 | 23,181 | 1354 | 0.3297 | |
| 132 | Utah Tech University | 31000 | 35200 | 0.1194 | 13,006 | 0 | 0 | |
| 134 | Taylor University | 31100 | 59100 | 0.4738 | 2,503 | 1229 | 0.7353 | |
| 135 | Hampton University | 31400 | 54800 | 0.427 | 3,728 | 947 | 0.6225 | |
| 136 | Missouri Baptist University | 31500 | 53800 | 0.414 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 136 | University of Louisville | 31500 | 42000 | 0.2498 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 138 | Baylor University | 31900 | 70300 | 0.546 | 14,915 | 1321 | 0.5128 | |
| 139 | Centenary University | 32200 | 63600 | 0.4936 | 936 | 1070 | 0.8308 | |
| 140 | Lipscomb University | 32500 | 57800 | 0.4371 | 3,336 | 1260 | 0.6773 | |
| 141 | Samford University | 32600 | 64600 | 0.4955 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 142 | Roanoke College | 32700 | 55300 | 0.4089 | 1,793 | 1214 | 0.8306 | |
| 142 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,598 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 144 | University of Oregon | 33000 | 38600 | 0.1444 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 145 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 146 | Harding University | 33500 | 47800 | 0.2987 | 3,536 | 1184 | 0.7052 | |
| 147 | SUNY Old Westbury | 33600 | 40900 | 0.1785 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8363 | |
| 147 | University of Arkansas-Fort Smith | 33600 | 34400 | 0.0233 | 5,459 | 1055 | 0.8046 | |
| 149 | Auburn University | 33700 | 34100 | 0.0117 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4592 | |
| 149 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 55300 | 0.3907 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 149 | Nova Southeastern University | 33700 | 56100 | 0.3992 | 7,311 | 1165 | 0.7321 | |
| 152 | Morningside University | 33800 | 60600 | 0.4421 | 1,172 | 922 | 0.7104 | |
| 153 | SUNY at Fredonia | 34100 | 39600 | 0.1391 | 2,771 | 1258 | 0.777 | |
| 154 | Barry University | 34400 | 56400 | 0.3899 | 3,232 | 1005 | 0.7724 | |
| 154 | SUNY College at Geneseo | 34400 | 39400 | 0.127 | 3,881 | 1279 | 0.6645 | |
| 156 | Sacred Heart University | 34600 | 67500 | 0.4877 | 7,204 | 950 | 0.6536 | |
| 157 | Coastal Carolina University | 34700 | 45100 | 0.2304 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 158 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 159 | University of New England | 35100 | 68000 | 0.4841 | 3,884 | 1145 | 0.9163 | |
| 160 | Roger Williams University | 35600 | 63700 | 0.4413 | 4,038 | 1235 | 0.8771 | |
| 161 | Cedarville University | 35700 | 57000 | 0.3734 | 5,790 | 1232 | 0.6529 | |
| 162 | Siena College | 35900 | 65100 | 0.4486 | 3,467 | 1254 | 0.6902 | |
| 163 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | 36000 | 48500 | 0.2573 | 2,075 | 1090 | 0.8894 | |
| 164 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 36100 | 36100 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 165 | Mississippi State University | 36200 | 50500 | 0.283 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 166 | Eckerd College | 36600 | 75100 | 0.5126 | 1,893 | 1255 | 0.758 | |
| 167 | University of New Haven | 36800 | 67300 | 0.453 | 4,903 | 1164 | 0.6038 | |
| 168 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 38100 | 65000 | 0.4136 | 1,097 | 1055 | 0.8351 | |
| 169 | Western New England University | 38700 | 69200 | 0.4409 | 2,616 | 1199 | 0.8348 | |
| 170 | Stony Brook University | 39700 | 53000 | 0.2506 | 18,263 | 1410 | 0.4904 | |
| 171 | Fresno Pacific University | 39900 | 52200 | 0.2352 | 1,545 | 1099 | 0.6407 | |
| 172 | University of Wyoming | 40000 | 45300 | 0.1166 | 8,130 | 1179 | 0.9688 | |
| 173 | University of California-Los Angeles | 40400 | 81800 | 0.5061 | 33,475 | 1399 | 0.0897 | |
| 174 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 40600 | 52100 | 0.2208 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 175 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 176 | Western Washington University | 41800 | 51500 | 0.1885 | 13,752 | 1272 | 0.9325 | |
| 177 | Montclair State University | 41900 | 46600 | 0.1009 | 18,712 | 1058 | 0.8789 | |
| 178 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 42400 | 42400 | 0 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.784 | |
| 179 | University of Florida | 43100 | 45700 | 0.057 | 36,573 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 180 | Florida Institute of Technology | 43300 | 68600 | 0.3686 | 3,666 | 1224 | 0.577 | |
| 181 | Marist University | 44100 | 75800 | 0.4181 | 5,551 | 1279 | 0.5651 | |
| 181 | Providence College | 44100 | 85000 | 0.4813 | 4,236 | 1335 | 0.5089 | |
| 183 | St. John's University-New York | 44500 | 78000 | 0.4292 | 15,640 | 1249 | 0.8343 | |
| 184 | Quinnipiac University | 44800 | 79200 | 0.4343 | 6,557 | 1245 | 0.7215 | |
| 185 | Ashland University | 44900 | 56400 | 0.204 | 2,977 | 1125 | 0.764 | |
| 186 | Biola University | 47100 | 71200 | 0.3386 | 3,481 | 1268 | 0.7435 | |
| 187 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53200 | 61000 | 0.1291 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 188 | MidAmerica Nazarene University | 53300 | 63600 | 0.1617 | 1,204 | 1040 | 0.788 | |
| 188 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53300 | 53300 | 0 | 33,033 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 190 | The University of Alabama | 55800 | 55800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1284 | 0.7665 | |
| 191 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 58200 | 64100 | 0.092 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 192 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 61000 | 63200 | 0.0348 | 40,684 | 1331 | 0.3915 | |
| 193 | College of Charleston | 61200 | 61200 | 0 | 10,880 | 1255 | 0.6003 | |
| 194 | Hawaii Pacific University | 63500 | 65800 | 0.0346 | 3,533 | 1120 | 0.8587 | |
| 195 | University of California-Davis | 69800 | 69800 | 0 | 32,273 | 1290 | 0.4183 | |
| 196 | University of California-Irvine | 72000 | 75600 | 0.0476 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2857 | |
| 197 | Rollins College | 82400 | 82400 | 0 | 2,640 | 1273 | 0.4754 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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