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 | 8700 | 34500 | 0.7474 | 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 | Marshall University | 11300 | 27100 | 0.5821 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 8 | University of West Florida | 12200 | 21500 | 0.432 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 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 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 12 | University of Maine at Farmington | 12900 | 26500 | 0.5142 | 1,677 | 1124 | 0.9672 | |
| 13 | Texas State University | 13200 | 23200 | 0.4313 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 14 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 15 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 14000 | 38000 | 0.6321 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6557 | |
| 16 | Midwestern State University | 14200 | 21600 | 0.3422 | 4,508 | 1055 | 0.8738 | |
| 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 | |
| 19 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 20 | West Virginia University | 14500 | 23300 | 0.3776 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 21 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 36300 | 0.5973 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 22 | University of North Texas | 14800 | 25400 | 0.418 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 23 | Coastal Carolina University | 15100 | 27200 | 0.4449 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 24 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 25 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 26 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 15600 | 25700 | 0.3925 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 27 | James Madison University | 15700 | 28600 | 0.4503 | 21,112 | 1260 | 0.7151 | |
| 28 | California State University-Long Beach | 15800 | 25800 | 0.3877 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 28 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 15800 | 23400 | 0.3252 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 30 | Troy University | 15900 | 26700 | 0.4044 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 31 | Lehigh University | 16200 | 85700 | 0.8114 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 32 | University of Arizona | 16500 | 30900 | 0.4668 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 33 | Sam Houston State University | 16600 | 23000 | 0.2783 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 34 | Weber State University | 17100 | 22100 | 0.2264 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 35 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17600 | 33600 | 0.4758 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 36 | Virginia State University | 17900 | 29300 | 0.3897 | 4,829 | 935 | 0.891 | |
| 37 | Georgia Southern University | 18200 | 23800 | 0.2357 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 38 | Union College | 18300 | 91000 | 0.799 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4392 | |
| 38 | University of Maine | 18300 | 29000 | 0.3693 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 40 | Angelo State University | 18500 | 23100 | 0.1979 | 9,779 | 1055 | 0.8301 | |
| 40 | Greensboro College | 18500 | 37800 | 0.5105 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 42 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4817 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 43 | University of Mississippi | 18900 | 45500 | 0.5851 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 44 | Georgia College & State University | 19200 | 21600 | 0.111 | 6,006 | 1155 | 0.8779 | |
| 45 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 46 | University of Memphis | 19400 | 26400 | 0.2657 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 47 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 48 | University of Wyoming | 20000 | 26700 | 0.2497 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 49 | University of West Georgia | 20100 | 23600 | 0.1481 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 50 | Allegheny College | 20700 | 75200 | 0.7244 | 1,171 | 1269 | 0.5452 | |
| 51 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 52 | Western Illinois University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3266 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 53 | Wheaton College | 21000 | 82000 | 0.7438 | 2,119 | 1351 | 0.8998 | |
| 54 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3349 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 55 | Cleveland State University | 21500 | 30900 | 0.3038 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 55 | Louisiana Christian University | 21500 | 26000 | 0.1733 | 803 | 1065 | 0.8379 | |
| 55 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 58 | Dillard University | 21600 | 50400 | 0.5717 | 1,117 | 1080 | 0.4051 | |
| 59 | Bentley University | 22000 | 84500 | 0.7394 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 60 | South Dakota State University | 22100 | 25200 | 0.1219 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 61 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 62 | Ave Maria University | 22300 | 44800 | 0.502 | 1,250 | 1193 | 0.4481 | |
| 63 | Boise State University | 22700 | 41000 | 0.4461 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 63 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 65 | West Texas A & M University | 22900 | 24600 | 0.0691 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 66 | Grove City College | 23100 | 37200 | 0.3791 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 67 | Berry College | 23200 | 60800 | 0.6182 | 2,254 | 1219 | 0.64 | |
| 68 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 69 | Beloit College | 23800 | 75600 | 0.6855 | 1,004 | 1298 | 0.6304 | |
| 69 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 71 | Saint Cloud State University | 24500 | 35100 | 0.303 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 72 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 24800 | 28500 | 0.13 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 73 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 24900 | 28000 | 0.1098 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 74 | Miami University-Oxford | 25100 | 27200 | 0.0771 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 75 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 76 | Hope College | 25700 | 60100 | 0.5722 | 3,395 | 1245 | 0.7924 | |
| 77 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 77 | Westmont College | 25900 | 76400 | 0.6612 | 1,311 | 1324 | 0.7704 | |
| 79 | Saginaw Valley State University | 26000 | 38900 | 0.3313 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 79 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 26000 | 31500 | 0.1747 | 6,817 | 1110 | 0.882 | |
| 81 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5965 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 81 | Westminster University | 26100 | 59500 | 0.561 | 842 | 1233 | 0.6657 | |
| 83 | Iowa State University | 26200 | 42800 | 0.3864 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 84 | Marquette University | 26400 | 65700 | 0.5978 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 85 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 86 | Northwest Nazarene University | 26600 | 68400 | 0.6111 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 86 | Pennsylvania Western University | 26600 | 35600 | 0.2531 | 7,586 | 1070 | 0.9433 | |
| 88 | Cornell College | 26700 | 72200 | 0.6299 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 88 | Lamar University | 26700 | 37700 | 0.2915 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 88 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 26700 | 48200 | 0.4462 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 88 | University of Arkansas | 26700 | 30800 | 0.1324 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 92 | Oakland University | 26800 | 39800 | 0.3268 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 93 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 94 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 95 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 27400 | 53300 | 0.4858 | 2,803 | 1105 | 0.9576 | |
| 96 | Aquinas College | 27600 | 53300 | 0.4823 | 1,019 | 1035 | 0.8988 | |
| 97 | Tennessee State University | 27700 | 39300 | 0.2954 | 5,057 | 980 | 0.7018 | |
| 98 | Missouri Valley College | 27800 | 38100 | 0.2703 | 1,558 | 985 | 0.5269 | |
| 99 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 99 | University of Louisville | 27900 | 42200 | 0.3387 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 101 | Villanova University | 28000 | 88800 | 0.6845 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 102 | Grand Valley State University | 28200 | 35700 | 0.2101 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 102 | Washburn University | 28200 | 38100 | 0.26 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 104 | John Brown University | 28300 | 48300 | 0.4153 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 105 | Jacksonville State University | 28500 | 38200 | 0.2537 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 106 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 107 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 28900 | 39700 | 0.2722 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 108 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 109 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 29800 | 41000 | 0.2729 | 8,320 | 1074 | 0.8858 | |
| 110 | University of North Dakota | 30000 | 32500 | 0.0791 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 111 | Belmont University | 30300 | 67800 | 0.5529 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 111 | South Carolina State University | 30300 | 41600 | 0.2716 | 2,950 | 865 | 0.8262 | |
| 113 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 114 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 30500 | 41800 | 0.2705 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 115 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 30600 | 31100 | 0.0161 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 116 | East Tennessee State University | 30700 | 30700 | 0 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 116 | University of Redlands | 30700 | 81400 | 0.6227 | 2,045 | 1226 | 0.8271 | |
| 118 | Georgia State University | 30800 | 44400 | 0.306 | 27,438 | 1089 | 0.5543 | |
| 118 | St Bonaventure University | 30800 | 61000 | 0.4948 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 120 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 120 | Carroll University | 30900 | 61400 | 0.4966 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 120 | The College of Wooster | 30900 | 82400 | 0.6257 | 1,738 | 1344 | 0.5953 | |
| 120 | Wofford College | 30900 | 73200 | 0.5776 | 1,817 | 1305 | 0.5194 | |
| 124 | North Carolina State University | 31100 | 53000 | 0.4127 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 125 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 31500 | 36700 | 0.1417 | 5,789 | 1115 | 0.5774 | |
| 126 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 127 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 127 | University of North Florida | 31800 | 37900 | 0.161 | 13,735 | 1150 | 0.5324 | |
| 129 | Hampton University | 32300 | 47000 | 0.3128 | 3,728 | 956 | 0.6225 | |
| 130 | Widener University | 32500 | 75300 | 0.5682 | 2,811 | 1155 | 0.8402 | |
| 131 | University of Dayton | 32800 | 64100 | 0.4883 | 7,737 | 1284 | 0.6566 | |
| 132 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 33000 | 73700 | 0.552 | 1,525 | 1241 | 0.556 | |
| 133 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 134 | Appalachian State University | 33500 | 35800 | 0.0642 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 135 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 135 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 137 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 34400 | 34500 | 0.0029 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 138 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 139 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 139 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 34900 | 48400 | 0.2791 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 141 | Cedarville University | 35100 | 55100 | 0.364 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 142 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35200 | 38100 | 0.0768 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 143 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 35700 | 42400 | 0.158 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 143 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 35700 | 43500 | 0.1794 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 145 | Salisbury University | 36100 | 40900 | 0.1175 | 6,288 | 1250 | 0.8747 | |
| 145 | Western Kentucky University | 36100 | 41900 | 0.1385 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 147 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 148 | Mississippi State University | 36400 | 50500 | 0.2789 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 148 | Tennessee Technological University | 36400 | 38500 | 0.0539 | 8,838 | 1159 | 0.8316 | |
| 150 | University of Central Florida | 36700 | 39600 | 0.0733 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 151 | Clark Atlanta University | 36800 | 49800 | 0.2613 | 3,495 | 1000 | 0.6463 | |
| 152 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 36900 | 38900 | 0.0533 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 153 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 37100 | 46700 | 0.2056 | 7,683 | 1120 | 0.9402 | |
| 154 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2603 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 154 | Wichita State University | 37700 | 39700 | 0.0504 | 14,280 | 1094 | 0.7211 | |
| 156 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 38400 | 38400 | 0 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 157 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 159 | Saint Vincent College | 38600 | 60700 | 0.3636 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 159 | Suffolk University | 38600 | 73600 | 0.4758 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 161 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 39000 | 52900 | 0.2626 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 161 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 39000 | 39000 | 0 | 6,800 | 1245 | 0.6857 | |
| 163 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 39400 | 39400 | 0 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 164 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,152 | 1070 | 0.8814 | |
| 165 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4108 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 166 | Alvernia University | 40000 | 68700 | 0.4179 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 166 | Loyola University Chicago | 40000 | 67600 | 0.4085 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 168 | University of Georgia | 40300 | 46000 | 0.1242 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 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 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 41600 | 42500 | 0.0212 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 173 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 174 | Arkansas State University | 41900 | 45900 | 0.086 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 175 | Loyola University Maryland | 42000 | 78800 | 0.4671 | 3,881 | 1309 | 0.7549 | |
| 176 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 177 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 178 | Mercyhurst University | 42500 | 66400 | 0.3601 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 179 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43500 | 50300 | 0.1352 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 180 | Merrimack College | 43600 | 78800 | 0.4464 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 181 | Middle Tennessee State University | 45800 | 45800 | 0 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 182 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 183 | Presbyterian College | 47300 | 62700 | 0.2455 | 853 | 1105 | 0.6837 | |
| 184 | Molloy University | 48200 | 62300 | 0.2265 | 3,240 | 1199 | 0.8174 | |
| 185 | University of Kentucky | 51000 | 56000 | 0.0893 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 186 | Chapman University | 51400 | 87300 | 0.4113 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 187 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 188 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 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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