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 | Washington University in St Louis | 9200 | 96200 | 0.904 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 2 | Arkansas Tech University | 9900 | 22900 | 0.5671 | 8,145 | 1035 | 0.9589 | |
| 2 | Francis Marion University | 9900 | 25400 | 0.61 | 3,635 | 1015 | 0.8639 | |
| 4 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 5 | Brigham Young University | 10900 | 29000 | 0.6237 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 11600 | 24800 | 0.5328 | 6,817 | 1110 | 0.882 | |
| 7 | Tennessee State University | 11800 | 30300 | 0.6101 | 5,057 | 980 | 0.7018 | |
| 8 | Lehigh University | 12300 | 85700 | 0.857 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 10 | University of Central Florida | 12400 | 23600 | 0.4746 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 11 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 12 | Saginaw Valley State University | 12900 | 28600 | 0.5491 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 13 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13700 | 19400 | 0.2939 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 14 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 15 | Northern Arizona University | 14000 | 25400 | 0.4509 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 16 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 14200 | 26500 | 0.463 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 16 | West Virginia University | 14200 | 23300 | 0.3905 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 18 | Midwestern State University | 14300 | 21600 | 0.3375 | 4,508 | 1055 | 0.8738 | |
| 18 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 20 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 20 | Union College | 14500 | 91000 | 0.8407 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4392 | |
| 22 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 36300 | 0.5973 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 23 | University of California-Irvine | 15200 | 35300 | 0.5701 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 24 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15400 | 28100 | 0.452 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 25 | University of Maine at Farmington | 15500 | 23200 | 0.3311 | 1,677 | 1124 | 0.9672 | |
| 25 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 27 | James Madison University | 15600 | 28600 | 0.4538 | 21,112 | 1260 | 0.7151 | |
| 28 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 15900 | 24900 | 0.361 | 7,683 | 1120 | 0.9402 | |
| 28 | Troy University | 15900 | 26700 | 0.4044 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 30 | Washburn University | 16000 | 25200 | 0.3646 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 31 | Appalachian State University | 16100 | 19500 | 0.1742 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 31 | Lamar University | 16100 | 22900 | 0.2966 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 31 | University of Arizona | 16100 | 30900 | 0.4797 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 34 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 16300 | 26800 | 0.392 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 35 | Middle Tennessee State University | 16400 | 23200 | 0.2928 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 35 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 16400 | 22300 | 0.2643 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 37 | North Carolina State University | 16500 | 28500 | 0.4223 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 38 | Jacksonville State University | 16900 | 26600 | 0.3649 | 8,663 | 1069 | 0.7769 | |
| 39 | Arkansas State University | 17000 | 28100 | 0.3952 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 40 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 17200 | 26300 | 0.3466 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 41 | Georgia Southern University | 18000 | 23800 | 0.2441 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 41 | University of Louisville | 18000 | 29100 | 0.3818 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 43 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 18200 | 18200 | 0 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 44 | SUNY Oneonta | 18400 | 29300 | 0.372 | 4,681 | 1190 | 0.6959 | |
| 45 | Greensboro College | 18500 | 37800 | 0.5105 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 46 | East Tennessee State University | 18600 | 26300 | 0.293 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 47 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4826 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 47 | University of Mississippi | 18700 | 45500 | 0.5895 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 49 | Georgia College & State University | 18900 | 21600 | 0.1248 | 6,006 | 1155 | 0.8779 | |
| 49 | Texas State University | 18900 | 28900 | 0.3455 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 49 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 18900 | 18900 | 0 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 52 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 53 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 53 | Western Kentucky University | 19500 | 26800 | 0.2725 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 55 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 19600 | 27200 | 0.2797 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 55 | Wheaton College | 19600 | 82000 | 0.7609 | 2,119 | 1351 | 0.8998 | |
| 57 | Georgia State University | 19800 | 26000 | 0.2386 | 27,438 | 1089 | 0.5543 | |
| 57 | University of West Georgia | 19800 | 23600 | 0.1607 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 59 | Iowa State University | 20000 | 24200 | 0.1755 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 60 | South Carolina State University | 20300 | 30000 | 0.3228 | 2,950 | 865 | 0.8262 | |
| 61 | Grove City College | 20400 | 39700 | 0.4868 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 62 | Allegheny College | 20500 | 75200 | 0.7272 | 1,171 | 1269 | 0.5452 | |
| 62 | Marshall University | 20500 | 36300 | 0.4356 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 62 | South Dakota State University | 20500 | 25200 | 0.1866 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 65 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 65 | Western Illinois University | 20800 | 31000 | 0.3308 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 67 | University of Miami | 21100 | 70800 | 0.7023 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 68 | Cleveland State University | 21400 | 30900 | 0.3071 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 69 | Louisiana Christian University | 21500 | 26000 | 0.1733 | 803 | 1065 | 0.8379 | |
| 70 | Dillard University | 21600 | 50400 | 0.5717 | 1,117 | 1080 | 0.4051 | |
| 71 | Bentley University | 22000 | 84500 | 0.7394 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 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 | Boise State University | 22400 | 41000 | 0.4534 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 75 | Lewis University | 22600 | 57000 | 0.6037 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 76 | University of Memphis | 22700 | 30000 | 0.2437 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 77 | Berry College | 23100 | 60800 | 0.6199 | 2,254 | 1219 | 0.64 | |
| 78 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 79 | Beloit College | 23800 | 75600 | 0.6855 | 1,004 | 1298 | 0.6304 | |
| 79 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 79 | University of Kentucky | 23800 | 36000 | 0.339 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 82 | Saint Cloud State University | 24500 | 35100 | 0.303 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 83 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 24700 | 28500 | 0.1335 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 84 | West Texas A & M University | 25200 | 27100 | 0.07 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 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 | Westminster University | 26100 | 59500 | 0.561 | 842 | 1233 | 0.6657 | |
| 90 | University of Evansville | 26200 | 64700 | 0.5954 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 91 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 92 | Northwest Nazarene University | 26600 | 68400 | 0.6111 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 92 | Pennsylvania Western University | 26600 | 35600 | 0.2531 | 7,586 | 1070 | 0.9433 | |
| 94 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 26700 | 48200 | 0.4462 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 95 | Oakland University | 26800 | 39800 | 0.3268 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 95 | University of Arkansas | 26800 | 30800 | 0.1302 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 97 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 98 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 99 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 27300 | 53300 | 0.4877 | 2,803 | 1105 | 0.9576 | |
| 100 | Aquinas College | 27400 | 53300 | 0.486 | 1,019 | 1035 | 0.8988 | |
| 101 | Cornell College | 27500 | 74800 | 0.6328 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 102 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 27600 | 27600 | 0 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 102 | University of North Texas | 27600 | 37400 | 0.2622 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 104 | Weber State University | 27700 | 33300 | 0.1682 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 105 | Missouri Valley College | 27800 | 38100 | 0.2703 | 1,558 | 985 | 0.5269 | |
| 106 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 106 | Villanova University | 27900 | 88800 | 0.6856 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 108 | California State University-Long Beach | 28000 | 38400 | 0.2712 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 109 | John Brown University | 28100 | 48300 | 0.418 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 110 | Grand Valley State University | 28200 | 35700 | 0.2101 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 111 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 111 | Salisbury University | 28700 | 28700 | 0 | 6,288 | 1250 | 0.8747 | |
| 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 | |
| 114 | University of North Dakota | 29800 | 32500 | 0.0831 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 116 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.554 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 117 | Gannon University | 30500 | 45300 | 0.3268 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 117 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 30500 | 41800 | 0.2705 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 119 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 120 | Carroll University | 30700 | 61400 | 0.4999 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 120 | University of Redlands | 30700 | 81400 | 0.6227 | 2,045 | 1226 | 0.8271 | |
| 122 | The College of Wooster | 30800 | 82400 | 0.626 | 1,738 | 1344 | 0.5953 | |
| 122 | Wofford College | 30800 | 73200 | 0.5794 | 1,817 | 1305 | 0.5194 | |
| 124 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 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 | Angelo State University | 31700 | 35400 | 0.1047 | 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 | |
| 130 | Sam Houston State University | 32100 | 39900 | 0.1955 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 131 | Hampton University | 32300 | 47000 | 0.3128 | 3,728 | 956 | 0.6225 | |
| 131 | Virginia State University | 32300 | 42200 | 0.2348 | 4,829 | 935 | 0.891 | |
| 133 | Widener University | 32500 | 75300 | 0.5682 | 2,811 | 1155 | 0.8402 | |
| 134 | University of Dayton | 32800 | 64100 | 0.4883 | 7,737 | 1284 | 0.6566 | |
| 135 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 32900 | 73700 | 0.5534 | 1,525 | 1241 | 0.556 | |
| 136 | Tarleton State University | 33300 | 33300 | 0 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 137 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 137 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 139 | Cedarville University | 33900 | 55100 | 0.3845 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 140 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 34400 | 34500 | 0.0029 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 141 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 141 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34600 | 37800 | 0.0848 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 143 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 143 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 34900 | 48400 | 0.2791 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 145 | Coastal Carolina University | 35100 | 44700 | 0.2146 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 145 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35100 | 38100 | 0.0802 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 147 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 35700 | 43500 | 0.1794 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 147 | University of West Florida | 35700 | 44600 | 0.1996 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 149 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 150 | Mississippi State University | 36300 | 50500 | 0.2815 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 150 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 150 | Tennessee Technological University | 36300 | 38500 | 0.0572 | 8,838 | 1159 | 0.8316 | |
| 153 | Clark Atlanta University | 36800 | 49800 | 0.2613 | 3,495 | 1000 | 0.6463 | |
| 154 | Wichita State University | 37400 | 39600 | 0.0556 | 14,280 | 1094 | 0.7211 | |
| 155 | Loyola University Chicago | 37500 | 67600 | 0.4455 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 156 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2609 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 158 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 159 | Suffolk University | 38500 | 73600 | 0.4771 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 160 | University of Wyoming | 38600 | 43800 | 0.1187 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 161 | Hofstra University | 38800 | 74600 | 0.4797 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 161 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 38800 | 52900 | 0.2664 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 163 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 39000 | 39000 | 0 | 6,800 | 1245 | 0.6857 | |
| 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 | University of Georgia | 40300 | 46000 | 0.1242 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 167 | Marymount Manhattan College | 40600 | 68600 | 0.4079 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 168 | Marquette University | 41300 | 75100 | 0.4502 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 168 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 170 | Saint Vincent College | 41400 | 64600 | 0.3593 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 171 | Loyola University Maryland | 41900 | 78800 | 0.4684 | 3,881 | 1309 | 0.7549 | |
| 172 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 173 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 174 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 175 | Mercyhurst University | 42600 | 66400 | 0.3586 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 176 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 43400 | 43400 | 0 | 16,086 | 1293 | 0.5117 | |
| 177 | Merrimack College | 43500 | 78800 | 0.4481 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 178 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 43800 | 57100 | 0.2315 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 179 | Alvernia University | 44900 | 68700 | 0.3465 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 180 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 181 | Presbyterian College | 47200 | 62700 | 0.247 | 853 | 1105 | 0.6837 | |
| 182 | Molloy University | 48200 | 62300 | 0.2265 | 3,240 | 1199 | 0.8174 | |
| 183 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 50200 | 52300 | 0.0401 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 184 | Chapman University | 51300 | 87300 | 0.4125 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 185 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 186 | Miami University-Oxford | 56100 | 56100 | 0 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 187 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 56200 | 66500 | 0.1549 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6557 | |
| 188 | Santa Clara University | 56500 | 84800 | 0.3339 | 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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