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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 | University of Houston-Clear Lake | 100 | 22300 | 0.9939 | 6,029 | 1080 | 0.834 | |
| 2 | University of Pennsylvania | 5700 | 93000 | 0.9389 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 3 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 8100 | 36700 | 0.7801 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 10300 | 24000 | 0.5721 | 4,721 | 1110 | 0.7782 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5884 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 6 | California State University-Fresno | 12000 | 19600 | 0.3869 | 21,430 | 995 | 0.9638 | |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 8 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 12600 | 12600 | 0 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.737 | |
| 9 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 12700 | 37100 | 0.6572 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 10 | Indiana State University | 13600 | 25900 | 0.4757 | 6,224 | 1140 | 0.8077 | |
| 10 | University of Delaware | 13600 | 32500 | 0.5829 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 12 | Northern Arizona University | 14000 | 25400 | 0.4509 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 13 | West Virginia University | 14200 | 23300 | 0.3905 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 14 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 15 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14500 | 41100 | 0.6478 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 16 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 27900 | 0.476 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 17 | Lander University | 15100 | 24600 | 0.3854 | 3,669 | 1060 | 0.6792 | |
| 18 | University of Southern Maine | 15300 | 23000 | 0.3344 | 5,525 | 1129 | 0.7931 | |
| 19 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15400 | 28100 | 0.452 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 20 | University of St Thomas | 15900 | 50900 | 0.6879 | 3,395 | 1080 | 0.8993 | |
| 21 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 16600 | 25700 | 0.3541 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 22 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 16800 | 26000 | 0.3534 | 3,102 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 23 | Avila University | 16900 | 67600 | 0.7506 | 1,335 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 24 | Arkansas State University | 17000 | 28100 | 0.3952 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 24 | Coker University | 17000 | 47800 | 0.6446 | 1,187 | 1005 | 0.9723 | |
| 26 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 17800 | 28800 | 0.3822 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 27 | Rosemont College | 18400 | 38100 | 0.5155 | 484 | 1085 | 0.7451 | |
| 27 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 18400 | 25200 | 0.2698 | 6,853 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 27 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18400 | 27700 | 0.3355 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 30 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4826 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 30 | Hastings College | 18700 | 50400 | 0.629 | 936 | 1116 | 0.654 | |
| 32 | Illinois College | 18900 | 52300 | 0.6391 | 940 | 1054 | 0.7819 | |
| 33 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 19000 | 27000 | 0.2967 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 34 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 35 | Cleveland State University | 19700 | 37300 | 0.4721 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 36 | Davis & Elkins College | 19900 | 48300 | 0.5883 | 683 | 1025 | 0.5823 | |
| 36 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 38 | Central Connecticut State University | 20000 | 27600 | 0.2756 | 8,170 | 1010 | 0.7333 | |
| 39 | McMurry University | 20300 | 46600 | 0.5649 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 39 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 20300 | 33400 | 0.3927 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 41 | South Dakota State University | 20500 | 25200 | 0.1866 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 42 | Hiram College | 20700 | 48700 | 0.5749 | 1,026 | 1005 | 0.9244 | |
| 42 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 42 | Virginia Union University | 20700 | 31000 | 0.3321 | 1,170 | 900 | 0.978 | |
| 45 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 45 | University of Northern Iowa | 20800 | 24000 | 0.1334 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 47 | University of Miami | 21100 | 70800 | 0.7023 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 47 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 21100 | 23500 | 0.1023 | 10,090 | 1075 | 0.9368 | |
| 49 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,206 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 50 | Stockton University | 21500 | 32100 | 0.33 | 7,565 | 1135 | 0.8894 | |
| 51 | Cottey College | 21800 | 37300 | 0.4157 | 261 | 1090 | 0.7023 | |
| 51 | Tabor College | 21800 | 55600 | 0.6076 | 539 | 965 | 0.6458 | |
| 51 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 21800 | 25400 | 0.1427 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 54 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.666 | 807 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 55 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4666 | 2,504 | 1045 | 0.9338 | |
| 56 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6203 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 56 | Concordia University-Chicago | 22400 | 46400 | 0.5168 | 1,327 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 58 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5778 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 59 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 22900 | 35400 | 0.3526 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 60 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 60 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 23100 | 29800 | 0.223 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8876 | |
| 62 | Ohio Dominican University | 23800 | 53500 | 0.5548 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 63 | Wells College | 23900 | 54500 | 0.5609 | 357 | 1084 | 0.6965 | |
| 64 | Dominican University | 24000 | 56000 | 0.5708 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 64 | Hamline University | 24000 | 56500 | 0.5748 | 1,716 | 1145 | 0.8983 | |
| 66 | University of Mobile | 24100 | 44500 | 0.458 | 1,688 | 1180 | 0.7251 | |
| 67 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 24400 | 76300 | 0.6804 | 7,703 | 1105 | 0.9556 | |
| 67 | Maryville College | 24400 | 58400 | 0.5819 | 1,136 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 69 | Heidelberg University | 24600 | 48600 | 0.4939 | 933 | 1100 | 0.6773 | |
| 70 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 24700 | 62200 | 0.6033 | 686 | 1030 | 0.8649 | |
| 70 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5402 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 72 | University of Lynchburg | 24800 | 54900 | 0.5488 | 1,595 | 1124 | 0.4301 | |
| 73 | Rockford University | 24900 | 59000 | 0.5771 | 968 | 1045 | 0.5704 | |
| 73 | The University of Tampa | 24900 | 56900 | 0.562 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 75 | Flagler College | 25100 | 37800 | 0.3362 | 2,409 | 785 | 0.8076 | |
| 76 | St. Mary's University | 25300 | 55900 | 0.5476 | 2,150 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 77 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 78 | Marquette University | 25800 | 65700 | 0.6069 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 79 | Lakeland University | 25900 | 56500 | 0.5417 | 2,318 | 1000 | 0.914 | |
| 80 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66500 | 0.6094 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 81 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 81 | Norwich University | 26300 | 70900 | 0.6293 | 2,642 | 1209 | 0.7361 | |
| 83 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4748 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 84 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 84 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 86 | Randolph-Macon College | 26600 | 69200 | 0.6155 | 1,643 | 1140 | 0.8661 | |
| 87 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 88 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 89 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 27100 | 55200 | 0.5088 | 1,997 | 1160 | 0.9526 | |
| 90 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 91 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.2777 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 92 | Johnson C Smith University | 27500 | 41000 | 0.3289 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 93 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27700 | 71200 | 0.6109 | 2,446 | 1179 | 0.78 | |
| 94 | McPherson College | 27800 | 47600 | 0.4163 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 95 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27900 | 61400 | 0.5464 | 1,833 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 95 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 27900 | 32800 | 0.1492 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 95 | Villanova University | 27900 | 88800 | 0.6856 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 98 | Drury University | 28200 | 52900 | 0.4668 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 99 | California State University-San Marcos | 28300 | 38400 | 0.2628 | 14,977 | 970 | 0.951 | |
| 100 | Assumption University | 28500 | 74400 | 0.6173 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 100 | University of Hartford | 28500 | 70100 | 0.5926 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 102 | Framingham State University | 28600 | 38100 | 0.2496 | 2,817 | 1125 | 0.8491 | |
| 102 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 31500 | 0.0921 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 104 | Regis University | 28800 | 67200 | 0.5711 | 2,704 | 1199 | 0.8639 | |
| 104 | University of Utah | 28800 | 32000 | 0.1002 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 106 | Clemson University | 29100 | 37100 | 0.2156 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 107 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 29200 | 38000 | 0.2318 | 5,474 | 1138 | 0.9198 | |
| 108 | Delaware State University | 29300 | 36700 | 0.2018 | 4,941 | 960 | 0.6167 | |
| 109 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3853 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 110 | Huntington University | 29700 | 44300 | 0.3299 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 110 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 29700 | 37200 | 0.2006 | 12,151 | 1154 | 0.5716 | |
| 110 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4086 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 113 | Le Moyne College | 29900 | 53700 | 0.4433 | 2,563 | 1240 | 0.7529 | |
| 114 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 115 | Baker University | 30100 | 54800 | 0.4505 | 1,264 | 1040 | 0.9418 | |
| 116 | Crown College | 30300 | 46800 | 0.3528 | 1,379 | 1110 | 0.6281 | |
| 117 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 30400 | 54700 | 0.4429 | 1,409 | 1110 | 0.6327 | |
| 118 | Southern Wesleyan University | 30500 | 46200 | 0.34 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 119 | Albright College | 30600 | 48700 | 0.3717 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 119 | St Bonaventure University | 30600 | 61000 | 0.4981 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 121 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 122 | Florida Southern College | 31300 | 63200 | 0.5048 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 122 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 122 | University of West Georgia | 31300 | 36000 | 0.1306 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 125 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3637 | 898 | 1044 | 0.7614 | |
| 125 | Saint Michael's College | 31800 | 68400 | 0.5348 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 127 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 128 | North Carolina State University | 32800 | 54800 | 0.4017 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 129 | Fort Lewis College | 33000 | 41100 | 0.1973 | 3,320 | 1160 | 0.9323 | |
| 129 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 33000 | 40400 | 0.183 | 6,706 | 960 | 0.92 | |
| 131 | Mount Saint Mary College | 33200 | 68400 | 0.5147 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 132 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 1,956 | 1153 | 0.9146 | |
| 133 | Lasell University | 33500 | 47000 | 0.287 | 1,293 | 1139 | 0.927 | |
| 134 | Emmanuel College | 34000 | 68300 | 0.5024 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 134 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54600 | 0.3772 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 134 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 137 | Saint Anselm College | 34300 | 73700 | 0.5346 | 2,094 | 1195 | 0.7805 | |
| 138 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 139 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34600 | 37800 | 0.0848 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 140 | University of South Florida | 34700 | 34700 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 141 | Barry University | 34900 | 54600 | 0.3607 | 3,232 | 1015 | 0.7721 | |
| 141 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 143 | Chatham University | 35000 | 63300 | 0.4474 | 1,555 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 144 | Western Kentucky University | 36100 | 41900 | 0.1385 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 145 | University of Central Arkansas | 36200 | 38400 | 0.0575 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 146 | Mississippi State University | 36300 | 50500 | 0.2815 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 147 | Mercer University | 36400 | 60500 | 0.3984 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 147 | University of Denver | 36400 | 76800 | 0.5259 | 6,619 | 1323 | 0.7729 | |
| 149 | Concordia University Texas | 36500 | 43600 | 0.1629 | 1,391 | 1110 | 0.9106 | |
| 150 | SUNY Old Westbury | 37400 | 44100 | 0.1519 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 150 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 37400 | 41600 | 0.101 | 5,187 | 1005 | 0.9229 | |
| 152 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.258 | 2,391 | 1229 | 0.7645 | |
| 152 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2609 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 154 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 37900 | 80700 | 0.5298 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 155 | Washington State University | 38500 | 53900 | 0.2859 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 156 | Hofstra University | 38800 | 74600 | 0.4797 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 157 | Pacific University | 38900 | 74900 | 0.4806 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 158 | Arcadia University | 39300 | 71600 | 0.4501 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 159 | Fresno Pacific University | 40000 | 52200 | 0.2337 | 1,616 | 1075 | 0.5752 | |
| 159 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 40000 | 40000 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 161 | Saint Vincent College | 41400 | 64600 | 0.3593 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 162 | Howard Payne University | 41500 | 57700 | 0.2809 | 768 | 1025 | 0.6769 | |
| 163 | Union University | 41900 | 64100 | 0.3465 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6016 | |
| 164 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 164 | Saint Joseph's University | 42300 | 74500 | 0.4321 | 4,828 | 1234 | 0.8639 | |
| 166 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 167 | University at Buffalo | 42600 | 46800 | 0.0897 | 20,360 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 168 | University of Maryland-College Park | 42700 | 52900 | 0.1928 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 169 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 170 | University of Florida | 43500 | 45600 | 0.046 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 171 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 47300 | 58800 | 0.1956 | 849 | 1090 | 0.9947 | |
| 172 | The University of Alabama | 48800 | 48800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 173 | University of St Thomas | 50100 | 70300 | 0.2875 | 6,044 | 1270 | 0.9125 | |
| 174 | University of Iowa | 51000 | 53200 | 0.0415 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 175 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 176 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53200 | 61000 | 0.1279 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 177 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54200 | 54200 | 0 | 1,545 | 1134 | 0.5915 | |
| 178 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 179 | University of La Verne | 62200 | 66500 | 0.0647 | 2,414 | 1123 | 0.4847 | |
| 180 | Stonehill College | 70700 | 70700 | 0 | 2,515 | 1245 | 0.7256 | |
| 181 | Gonzaga University | 73200 | 73200 | 0 | 5,281 | 1303 | 0.8169 | |
| 182 | The Catholic University of America | 82500 | 82500 | 0 | 3,177 | 1204 | 0.8278 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.