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 | Patrick Henry College | 5800 | 42000 | 0.8613 | 425 | 1345 | 0.7744 | |
| 2 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 7900 | 34500 | 0.7705 | 16,086 | 1293 | 0.5117 | |
| 3 | Washington University in St Louis | 9400 | 96200 | 0.9026 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 4 | Francis Marion University | 9800 | 25400 | 0.6139 | 3,635 | 1015 | 0.8639 | |
| 5 | Arkansas Tech University | 9900 | 22900 | 0.5671 | 8,145 | 1035 | 0.9589 | |
| 6 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 7 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 11500 | 24800 | 0.5368 | 6,817 | 1110 | 0.882 | |
| 8 | Tennessee State University | 11800 | 30300 | 0.6101 | 5,057 | 980 | 0.7018 | |
| 9 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 10 | Brigham Young University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5686 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 11 | University of Central Florida | 12600 | 23600 | 0.4661 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 12 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 13 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 12800 | 24400 | 0.4759 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 14 | University of Maine at Farmington | 12900 | 26500 | 0.5141 | 1,677 | 1124 | 0.9672 | |
| 15 | Saginaw Valley State University | 13000 | 28600 | 0.5446 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 16 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 17 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 14300 | 26500 | 0.4594 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 17 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 17 | West Virginia University | 14300 | 23300 | 0.3862 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 21 | Midwestern State University | 14500 | 21600 | 0.3283 | 4,508 | 1055 | 0.8738 | |
| 22 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 36300 | 0.5973 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 23 | University of North Texas | 15400 | 25400 | 0.3943 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 24 | California State University-Long Beach | 15500 | 25800 | 0.3993 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 24 | Stephen F Austin State University | 15500 | 22600 | 0.3137 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 26 | North Carolina State University | 15600 | 27500 | 0.4331 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 27 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 15700 | 23400 | 0.3295 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 28 | Coastal Carolina University | 15800 | 27200 | 0.4191 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 28 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 15800 | 24900 | 0.365 | 7,683 | 1120 | 0.9402 | |
| 30 | Troy University | 15900 | 26700 | 0.4044 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 31 | Grand Valley State University | 16200 | 25300 | 0.3601 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 31 | Lehigh University | 16200 | 85700 | 0.8114 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 31 | Oakland University | 16200 | 28000 | 0.422 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 34 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 16800 | 29300 | 0.427 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 35 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16900 | 23200 | 0.2713 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 36 | Arkansas State University | 17000 | 28100 | 0.3952 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 36 | Jacksonville State University | 17000 | 26600 | 0.3612 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 36 | University of Georgia | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3731 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 39 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17900 | 33600 | 0.4669 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 40 | University of Arkansas | 18000 | 27700 | 0.3491 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 41 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 18200 | 18200 | 0 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 42 | Union College | 18300 | 91000 | 0.799 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4392 | |
| 43 | Greensboro College | 18500 | 37800 | 0.5105 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 43 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18500 | 27700 | 0.3319 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 45 | East Tennessee State University | 18600 | 26300 | 0.293 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 46 | Georgia College & State University | 18900 | 21600 | 0.1248 | 6,006 | 1155 | 0.8779 | |
| 46 | Saint Cloud State University | 18900 | 24500 | 0.2311 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 46 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 46 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 18900 | 18900 | 0 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 50 | Eastern Michigan University | 19300 | 36100 | 0.4651 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 50 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 52 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 52 | University of Mississippi | 19500 | 27000 | 0.2777 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 54 | University of West Georgia | 19900 | 23600 | 0.1565 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 55 | University of Wyoming | 20000 | 26700 | 0.2497 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 56 | Iowa State University | 20100 | 24200 | 0.1701 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 56 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20100 | 24500 | 0.1792 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 58 | Marshall University | 20500 | 36300 | 0.4356 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 59 | Allegheny College | 20700 | 75200 | 0.7244 | 1,171 | 1269 | 0.5452 | |
| 60 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 61 | Western Illinois University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3266 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 62 | Wheaton College | 21000 | 82000 | 0.7438 | 2,119 | 1351 | 0.8998 | |
| 63 | Pennsylvania Western University | 21200 | 29400 | 0.279 | 7,586 | 1070 | 0.9433 | |
| 64 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3345 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 65 | Louisiana Christian University | 21500 | 26000 | 0.1733 | 803 | 1065 | 0.8379 | |
| 65 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 67 | Dillard University | 21600 | 50400 | 0.5717 | 1,117 | 1080 | 0.4051 | |
| 68 | Cleveland State University | 21700 | 30900 | 0.2974 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 69 | Bentley University | 22000 | 84500 | 0.7394 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 70 | South Dakota State University | 22100 | 25200 | 0.1219 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 70 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 22100 | 28000 | 0.2106 | 5,789 | 1115 | 0.5774 | |
| 72 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 73 | Ave Maria University | 22300 | 44800 | 0.502 | 1,250 | 1193 | 0.4481 | |
| 74 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 74 | University of Memphis | 22700 | 30000 | 0.2437 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 76 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 22900 | 22900 | 0 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 77 | West Texas A & M University | 23000 | 24600 | 0.065 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 78 | Grove City College | 23100 | 37200 | 0.3791 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 79 | Berry College | 23200 | 60800 | 0.6182 | 2,254 | 1219 | 0.64 | |
| 80 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 23700 | 28300 | 0.1627 | 6,800 | 1245 | 0.6857 | |
| 80 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 82 | Beloit College | 23800 | 75600 | 0.6855 | 1,004 | 1298 | 0.6304 | |
| 83 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 25000 | 28500 | 0.123 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 84 | Tennessee Technological University | 25100 | 33700 | 0.2548 | 8,838 | 1159 | 0.8316 | |
| 85 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 86 | Hope College | 25700 | 60100 | 0.5722 | 3,395 | 1245 | 0.7924 | |
| 87 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 87 | Westmont College | 25900 | 76400 | 0.6612 | 1,311 | 1324 | 0.7704 | |
| 89 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5965 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 89 | Westminster University | 26100 | 59500 | 0.561 | 842 | 1233 | 0.6657 | |
| 91 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 91 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 91 | University of Arizona | 26500 | 35200 | 0.247 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 94 | Marquette University | 26600 | 65700 | 0.5948 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 94 | Northwest Nazarene University | 26600 | 68400 | 0.6111 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 96 | Cornell College | 26700 | 72200 | 0.6299 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 96 | Lamar University | 26700 | 37700 | 0.2915 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 96 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 26700 | 48200 | 0.4462 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 99 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 100 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 101 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 27400 | 53300 | 0.4858 | 2,803 | 1105 | 0.9576 | |
| 102 | Aquinas College | 27600 | 53300 | 0.4823 | 1,019 | 1035 | 0.8988 | |
| 103 | Weber State University | 27700 | 33300 | 0.1682 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 104 | Missouri Valley College | 27800 | 38100 | 0.2703 | 1,558 | 985 | 0.5269 | |
| 105 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 105 | University of Louisville | 27900 | 42200 | 0.3387 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 107 | Villanova University | 28000 | 88800 | 0.6845 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 108 | Washburn University | 28200 | 38100 | 0.26 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 109 | John Brown University | 28300 | 48300 | 0.4153 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 109 | Mississippi State University | 28300 | 32300 | 0.126 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 111 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 112 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 28900 | 39700 | 0.2722 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 113 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 114 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 29800 | 41000 | 0.2729 | 8,320 | 1074 | 0.8858 | |
| 115 | University of North Dakota | 30000 | 32500 | 0.0791 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 116 | Belmont University | 30300 | 67800 | 0.5529 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 116 | South Carolina State University | 30300 | 41600 | 0.2716 | 2,950 | 865 | 0.8262 | |
| 118 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 119 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 30600 | 31100 | 0.0161 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 120 | University of Redlands | 30700 | 81400 | 0.6227 | 2,045 | 1226 | 0.8271 | |
| 121 | Carroll University | 30800 | 61400 | 0.4983 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 121 | Georgia State University | 30800 | 44400 | 0.306 | 27,438 | 1089 | 0.5543 | |
| 121 | St Bonaventure University | 30800 | 61000 | 0.4948 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 124 | The College of Wooster | 30900 | 82400 | 0.6257 | 1,738 | 1344 | 0.5953 | |
| 124 | Wofford College | 30900 | 73200 | 0.5776 | 1,817 | 1305 | 0.5194 | |
| 126 | Azusa Pacific University | 31000 | 66000 | 0.5305 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 127 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 128 | Angelo State University | 31800 | 35400 | 0.101 | 9,779 | 1055 | 0.8301 | |
| 128 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 128 | University of North Florida | 31800 | 37900 | 0.161 | 13,735 | 1150 | 0.5324 | |
| 131 | Sam Houston State University | 32100 | 39900 | 0.1955 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 132 | Hampton University | 32300 | 47000 | 0.3128 | 3,728 | 956 | 0.6225 | |
| 133 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 32500 | 34700 | 0.0633 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 133 | Widener University | 32500 | 75300 | 0.5682 | 2,811 | 1155 | 0.8402 | |
| 135 | University of Dayton | 32800 | 64100 | 0.4883 | 7,737 | 1284 | 0.6566 | |
| 136 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 33000 | 73700 | 0.552 | 1,525 | 1241 | 0.556 | |
| 137 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 138 | Virginia State University | 33400 | 42200 | 0.2087 | 4,829 | 935 | 0.891 | |
| 139 | Appalachian State University | 33500 | 35800 | 0.0642 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 140 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 33600 | 46200 | 0.2729 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 141 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 142 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 34400 | 34500 | 0.0029 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 143 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 144 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34700 | 37800 | 0.0813 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 145 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 146 | Cedarville University | 35100 | 55100 | 0.364 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 147 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35200 | 38100 | 0.0768 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 148 | University of West Florida | 35600 | 44600 | 0.2019 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 149 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 35700 | 42400 | 0.158 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 149 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 35700 | 43500 | 0.1794 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 151 | Boise State University | 35800 | 48800 | 0.2664 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 152 | Salisbury University | 36100 | 40900 | 0.1175 | 6,288 | 1250 | 0.8747 | |
| 152 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 154 | Western Kentucky University | 36200 | 41900 | 0.1361 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 155 | Clark Atlanta University | 36800 | 49800 | 0.2613 | 3,495 | 1000 | 0.6463 | |
| 156 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 36900 | 38900 | 0.0533 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 157 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2603 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | Wichita State University | 37700 | 39700 | 0.0504 | 14,280 | 1094 | 0.7211 | |
| 159 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 160 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 38400 | 38400 | 0 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 160 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 162 | Saint Vincent College | 38600 | 60700 | 0.3636 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 162 | Suffolk University | 38600 | 73600 | 0.4758 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 164 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 39400 | 39400 | 0 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 165 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,152 | 1070 | 0.8814 | |
| 166 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4108 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 167 | Alvernia University | 40000 | 68700 | 0.4179 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 167 | Loyola University Chicago | 40000 | 67600 | 0.4085 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 169 | SUNY Oneonta | 40500 | 45300 | 0.1059 | 4,681 | 1190 | 0.6959 | |
| 170 | Marymount Manhattan College | 40700 | 68600 | 0.4064 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 171 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 172 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 173 | Loyola University Maryland | 42000 | 78800 | 0.4671 | 3,881 | 1309 | 0.7549 | |
| 174 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 175 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 176 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 177 | Mercyhurst University | 42600 | 66400 | 0.3586 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 178 | Merrimack College | 43600 | 78800 | 0.4464 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 179 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 180 | James Madison University | 46400 | 46400 | 0 | 21,112 | 1260 | 0.7151 | |
| 181 | Presbyterian College | 47300 | 62700 | 0.2455 | 853 | 1105 | 0.6837 | |
| 182 | Molloy University | 48200 | 62300 | 0.2265 | 3,240 | 1199 | 0.8174 | |
| 183 | University of Kentucky | 51000 | 56000 | 0.0893 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 184 | Chapman University | 51400 | 87300 | 0.4113 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 185 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 186 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 187 | Miami University-Oxford | 56100 | 56100 | 0 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 188 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 56200 | 66500 | 0.1549 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6557 | |
| 189 | Santa Clara University | 56800 | 84800 | 0.3303 | 6,577 | 1427 | 0.48 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.
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