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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 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice | 8000 | 36700 | 0.7828 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 3 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 10300 | 24000 | 0.5723 | 4,721 | 1110 | 0.7782 | |
| 4 | University of Pennsylvania | 11500 | 93000 | 0.8765 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5884 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 6 | California State University-Fresno | 12400 | 19600 | 0.3666 | 21,430 | 995 | 0.9638 | |
| 6 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 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 | 12900 | 25900 | 0.5027 | 6,224 | 1020 | 0.8077 | |
| 11 | University of Delaware | 13600 | 32500 | 0.5809 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 12 | University of South Florida | 14100 | 17100 | 0.1753 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 13 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 14 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 15 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 27900 | 0.476 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 16 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 14900 | 24900 | 0.4009 | 5,474 | 1138 | 0.9198 | |
| 17 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,669 | 1060 | 0.6792 | |
| 18 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 19 | University of St Thomas | 15900 | 50900 | 0.6879 | 3,395 | 1080 | 0.8993 | |
| 20 | University of Florida | 16100 | 22300 | 0.2781 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 21 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 16500 | 25700 | 0.3579 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 22 | Avila University | 16900 | 67600 | 0.7506 | 1,335 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 23 | Coker University | 17000 | 47800 | 0.6446 | 1,187 | 1005 | 0.9723 | |
| 24 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 17900 | 28800 | 0.3787 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 25 | University of Rhode Island | 18200 | 34400 | 0.4707 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 26 | Delaware State University | 18300 | 33100 | 0.4474 | 4,941 | 960 | 0.6167 | |
| 27 | State University of New York at Cortland | 18500 | 27700 | 0.3319 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 28 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 18600 | 25200 | 0.2618 | 6,853 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 28 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 18600 | 27000 | 0.3116 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 30 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4817 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 30 | Fort Lewis College | 18700 | 29100 | 0.3578 | 3,320 | 1160 | 0.9323 | |
| 30 | Hastings College | 18700 | 50400 | 0.629 | 936 | 1116 | 0.654 | |
| 33 | Framingham State University | 18900 | 31000 | 0.3904 | 2,817 | 1125 | 0.8491 | |
| 33 | Illinois College | 18900 | 52300 | 0.6376 | 940 | 1054 | 0.7819 | |
| 35 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 19300 | 25800 | 0.2518 | 6,706 | 960 | 0.92 | |
| 36 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 36 | Western Kentucky University | 19500 | 26800 | 0.2708 | 14,151 | 960 | 0.9387 | |
| 38 | Central Connecticut State University | 19600 | 27600 | 0.2901 | 8,170 | 1010 | 0.7333 | |
| 39 | Cleveland State University | 19700 | 37300 | 0.4721 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 40 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 40 | University of West Georgia | 19900 | 23600 | 0.1565 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 42 | Davis & Elkins College | 20000 | 48300 | 0.5856 | 683 | 1025 | 0.5823 | |
| 43 | McMurry University | 20300 | 46600 | 0.5649 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 43 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 20300 | 33400 | 0.3927 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 45 | Hiram College | 20600 | 48700 | 0.5763 | 1,026 | 1005 | 0.9244 | |
| 46 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 46 | Virginia Union University | 20700 | 31000 | 0.3321 | 1,170 | 900 | 0.978 | |
| 46 | West Virginia University | 20700 | 28800 | 0.2815 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 49 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 49 | University of California-Irvine | 20800 | 35300 | 0.4112 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 51 | University of Northern Iowa | 20900 | 24000 | 0.128 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 52 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 21100 | 23500 | 0.1023 | 10,090 | 1075 | 0.9368 | |
| 53 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3345 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 54 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,206 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 55 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 56 | Stockton University | 21700 | 32100 | 0.3238 | 7,565 | 1135 | 0.8894 | |
| 57 | Cottey College | 21800 | 37300 | 0.4159 | 261 | 1090 | 0.7023 | |
| 58 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.6661 | 807 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 58 | Tabor College | 22000 | 55600 | 0.604 | 539 | 1050 | 0.6458 | |
| 60 | South Dakota State University | 22100 | 25200 | 0.1219 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 61 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4668 | 2,504 | 1045 | 0.9338 | |
| 62 | Buena Vista University | 22500 | 59100 | 0.6188 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 62 | Concordia University-Chicago | 22500 | 46400 | 0.5146 | 1,327 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 64 | Manchester University | 22900 | 54200 | 0.5763 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 64 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 22900 | 32600 | 0.2977 | 3,102 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 66 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 67 | The University of Alabama | 23500 | 29900 | 0.2144 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 68 | Ohio Dominican University | 23800 | 53500 | 0.5548 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 69 | Hamline University | 24000 | 56500 | 0.5748 | 1,716 | 1145 | 0.8983 | |
| 69 | Wells College | 24000 | 54500 | 0.5595 | 357 | 1084 | 0.6965 | |
| 71 | University of Mobile | 24100 | 44500 | 0.458 | 1,688 | 1180 | 0.7251 | |
| 72 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 24400 | 76300 | 0.6804 | 7,703 | 1105 | 0.9556 | |
| 73 | Heidelberg University | 24500 | 48600 | 0.496 | 933 | 1100 | 0.6773 | |
| 73 | Maryville College | 24500 | 58400 | 0.5814 | 1,136 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 75 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 24700 | 62200 | 0.6033 | 686 | 1030 | 0.8649 | |
| 75 | University of Saint Mary | 24700 | 53700 | 0.5397 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 77 | Dominican University | 24800 | 55500 | 0.5522 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 77 | Rosemont College | 24800 | 38100 | 0.348 | 484 | 1085 | 0.7451 | |
| 77 | University of Lynchburg | 24800 | 54900 | 0.5483 | 1,595 | 1124 | 0.4301 | |
| 80 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 24900 | 51700 | 0.5179 | 1,409 | 1110 | 0.6327 | |
| 80 | Rockford University | 24900 | 59000 | 0.5771 | 968 | 1045 | 0.5704 | |
| 82 | The University of Tampa | 25000 | 56900 | 0.5602 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 83 | St. Mary's University | 25300 | 55900 | 0.5476 | 2,150 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 84 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 85 | Geneva College | 25800 | 48900 | 0.4723 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 86 | Lakeland University | 26000 | 56500 | 0.5404 | 2,318 | 1000 | 0.914 | |
| 86 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66500 | 0.6094 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 88 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 89 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 89 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 89 | Norwich University | 26500 | 70900 | 0.6264 | 2,642 | 1209 | 0.7361 | |
| 92 | Randolph-Macon College | 26700 | 69200 | 0.614 | 1,643 | 1140 | 0.8661 | |
| 92 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 92 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 26700 | 28800 | 0.072 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 95 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 96 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 27100 | 55200 | 0.5088 | 1,997 | 1160 | 0.9526 | |
| 96 | Flagler College | 27100 | 37800 | 0.2833 | 2,409 | 1100 | 0.8076 | |
| 96 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 27100 | 30400 | 0.1092 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8876 | |
| 99 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 100 | McPherson College | 27300 | 47600 | 0.4268 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 101 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.2772 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 102 | Johnson C Smith University | 27500 | 41000 | 0.3289 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 103 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27800 | 61400 | 0.5466 | 1,833 | 1153 | 0.7381 | |
| 103 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27800 | 71200 | 0.6096 | 2,446 | 1179 | 0.78 | |
| 105 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 27900 | 32800 | 0.1492 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 106 | Villanova University | 28000 | 88800 | 0.6845 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 107 | Drury University | 28200 | 52900 | 0.4668 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 108 | California State University-San Marcos | 28300 | 38400 | 0.2628 | 14,977 | 970 | 0.951 | |
| 109 | Assumption University | 28500 | 74400 | 0.6173 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 110 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28600 | 31500 | 0.0921 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 110 | University of Hartford | 28600 | 70100 | 0.5914 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 112 | Regis University | 28800 | 67200 | 0.5711 | 2,704 | 1199 | 0.8639 | |
| 113 | Clemson University | 29300 | 37100 | 0.2121 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 114 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 29700 | 37200 | 0.1998 | 12,151 | 1154 | 0.5716 | |
| 114 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4088 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 114 | William Penn University | 29700 | 47200 | 0.3721 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 117 | Huntington University | 29800 | 44300 | 0.3276 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 118 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 119 | Le Moyne College | 30100 | 53700 | 0.4396 | 2,563 | 1240 | 0.7529 | |
| 120 | Baker University | 30300 | 54800 | 0.4481 | 1,264 | 1040 | 0.9418 | |
| 120 | Crown College | 30300 | 46800 | 0.3528 | 1,379 | 1110 | 0.6281 | |
| 122 | Albright College | 30600 | 48700 | 0.3717 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 122 | Southern Wesleyan University | 30600 | 46200 | 0.3372 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 124 | St Bonaventure University | 30800 | 61000 | 0.4948 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 125 | Azusa Pacific University | 31000 | 66000 | 0.5305 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 126 | North Carolina State University | 31100 | 53000 | 0.4127 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 127 | Florida Southern College | 31300 | 63200 | 0.5044 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 128 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 32000 | 50000 | 0.3611 | 898 | 1044 | 0.7614 | |
| 128 | Saint Michael's College | 32000 | 68400 | 0.5319 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 130 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 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 | 33600 | 47000 | 0.2849 | 1,293 | 1139 | 0.927 | |
| 134 | Emmanuel College | 33900 | 68300 | 0.5039 | 1,909 | 1260 | 0.7565 | |
| 135 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 136 | LeTourneau University | 34100 | 54600 | 0.3754 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 137 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 138 | Saint Anselm College | 34500 | 73700 | 0.5319 | 2,094 | 1195 | 0.7805 | |
| 139 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 34700 | 37800 | 0.0813 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 139 | University of Denver | 34700 | 76800 | 0.5481 | 6,619 | 1349 | 0.7729 | |
| 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 | 35100 | 63300 | 0.4458 | 1,555 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 144 | University of Southern Maine | 36000 | 37100 | 0.0296 | 5,525 | 1129 | 0.7931 | |
| 145 | University of Central Arkansas | 36300 | 38400 | 0.0541 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 146 | Mississippi State University | 36400 | 50500 | 0.2789 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 147 | Mercer University | 36500 | 60500 | 0.3967 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 148 | Concordia University Texas | 36600 | 43600 | 0.1606 | 1,391 | 1110 | 0.9106 | |
| 149 | SUNY Old Westbury | 37400 | 44100 | 0.1519 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 150 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 37600 | 41600 | 0.0979 | 5,187 | 1005 | 0.9229 | |
| 151 | Benedictine College | 37700 | 50800 | 0.258 | 2,391 | 1229 | 0.7645 | |
| 151 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2603 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 153 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 38000 | 80700 | 0.529 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 154 | Saint Vincent College | 38600 | 60700 | 0.3636 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 154 | Washington State University | 38600 | 53900 | 0.2835 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 156 | Pacific University | 39000 | 74900 | 0.4789 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 156 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 39000 | 48900 | 0.2024 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 158 | Arcadia University | 39500 | 71600 | 0.4483 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 159 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 40000 | 40000 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 160 | Fresno Pacific University | 40100 | 52200 | 0.2313 | 1,616 | 1075 | 0.5752 | |
| 161 | Howard Payne University | 41600 | 57700 | 0.2787 | 768 | 1025 | 0.6769 | |
| 162 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 163 | Arkansas State University | 41900 | 45900 | 0.0859 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 164 | Union University | 42000 | 64100 | 0.3445 | 1,934 | 1242 | 0.6016 | |
| 165 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 165 | Saint Joseph's University | 42300 | 74500 | 0.4321 | 4,828 | 1234 | 0.8639 | |
| 167 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 168 | University at Buffalo | 42600 | 46800 | 0.0897 | 20,360 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 169 | University of Maryland-College Park | 42700 | 52900 | 0.1928 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 170 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 171 | Marquette University | 45600 | 75100 | 0.3929 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 172 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 47200 | 58800 | 0.1973 | 849 | 1090 | 0.9947 | |
| 173 | University of St Thomas | 50100 | 70300 | 0.2875 | 6,044 | 1270 | 0.9125 | |
| 174 | University of Iowa | 51100 | 53200 | 0.039 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 175 | Drexel University | 51200 | 82600 | 0.38 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 176 | University of Utah | 51600 | 53700 | 0.0386 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 177 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 53400 | 61000 | 0.1257 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 178 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54200 | 54200 | 0 | 1,545 | 1134 | 0.5915 | |
| 179 | University of La Verne | 62100 | 66500 | 0.0662 | 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.