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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 | 8300 | 36700 | 0.7746 | 11,554 | 1100 | 0.5516 | |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | 9000 | 93000 | 0.9034 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 10300 | 24000 | 0.5721 | 4,721 | 1110 | 0.7782 | |
| 5 | Eastern Washington University | 11500 | 30900 | 0.6273 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 6 | California State University-Fresno | 12100 | 19600 | 0.3819 | 21,430 | 995 | 0.9638 | |
| 7 | Northern Illinois University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5679 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 8 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 13100 | 37100 | 0.6464 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 9 | Missouri State University-Springfield | 13200 | 25700 | 0.4863 | 20,584 | 1134 | 0.9053 | |
| 10 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 11 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 12 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 36300 | 0.5973 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 13 | California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | 15000 | 24900 | 0.3969 | 5,474 | 1138 | 0.9198 | |
| 14 | California State University-San Marcos | 15300 | 24700 | 0.3813 | 14,977 | 970 | 0.951 | |
| 14 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 16 | University of St Thomas | 15900 | 50900 | 0.6879 | 3,395 | 1080 | 0.8993 | |
| 17 | University of Florida | 16100 | 22300 | 0.2781 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 18 | Avila University | 16900 | 67600 | 0.7506 | 1,335 | 985 | 0.878 | |
| 19 | Coker University | 17000 | 47800 | 0.6446 | 1,187 | 1005 | 0.9723 | |
| 20 | SUNY Old Westbury | 17400 | 24400 | 0.2873 | 4,260 | 1110 | 0.8352 | |
| 21 | Central Connecticut State University | 17600 | 34000 | 0.4821 | 8,170 | 1010 | 0.7333 | |
| 22 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 18000 | 28800 | 0.3752 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 22 | Northern Arizona University | 18000 | 32000 | 0.4372 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 24 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.482 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 24 | Hastings College | 18700 | 50400 | 0.629 | 936 | 1116 | 0.654 | |
| 26 | Illinois College | 19100 | 52300 | 0.6349 | 940 | 1054 | 0.7819 | |
| 27 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 28 | University of West Georgia | 20000 | 23600 | 0.1523 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 29 | Davis & Elkins College | 20200 | 47500 | 0.5742 | 683 | 1025 | 0.5823 | |
| 30 | McMurry University | 20300 | 46600 | 0.5649 | 3,167 | 1065 | 0.5704 | |
| 31 | Hiram College | 20600 | 48700 | 0.5766 | 1,026 | 1005 | 0.9244 | |
| 32 | Lebanon Valley College | 20700 | 71600 | 0.7111 | 1,720 | 1225 | 0.8377 | |
| 32 | Niagara University | 20700 | 57400 | 0.6391 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 32 | Virginia Union University | 20700 | 31000 | 0.3321 | 1,170 | 900 | 0.978 | |
| 32 | West Virginia University | 20700 | 28800 | 0.2815 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 36 | South Dakota State University | 20800 | 25200 | 0.1739 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 37 | University of Northern Iowa | 21100 | 24000 | 0.1201 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 37 | University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 21100 | 23500 | 0.1023 | 10,090 | 1075 | 0.9368 | |
| 39 | University of Missouri-Kansas City | 21400 | 34000 | 0.3702 | 10,206 | 1190 | 0.7218 | |
| 40 | Cleveland State University | 21700 | 30900 | 0.2974 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 40 | University of Miami | 21700 | 70800 | 0.6939 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 42 | Cottey College | 21800 | 37300 | 0.4162 | 261 | 1090 | 0.7023 | |
| 42 | Tabor College | 21800 | 55600 | 0.6076 | 539 | 965 | 0.6458 | |
| 44 | Lycoming College | 22000 | 65800 | 0.6664 | 807 | 1189 | 0.7407 | |
| 45 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4671 | 2,504 | 1045 | 0.9338 | |
| 46 | Buena Vista University | 22700 | 59100 | 0.6166 | 810 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 47 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus | 22900 | 32600 | 0.2977 | 3,102 | 1055 | 0.7533 | |
| 48 | Carlow University | 23100 | 58100 | 0.6029 | 1,355 | 1080 | 0.8696 | |
| 48 | Manchester University | 23100 | 54200 | 0.574 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 48 | University of Minnesota Duluth | 23100 | 29800 | 0.2242 | 8,426 | 1235 | 0.8876 | |
| 51 | Ohio Dominican University | 23800 | 53500 | 0.5548 | 843 | 1171 | 0.9423 | |
| 52 | University of Lynchburg | 23900 | 54900 | 0.5648 | 1,595 | 1124 | 0.4301 | |
| 53 | Hamline University | 24000 | 56500 | 0.5748 | 1,716 | 1145 | 0.8983 | |
| 53 | University of Mobile | 24000 | 44500 | 0.4603 | 1,688 | 1180 | 0.7251 | |
| 55 | University at Buffalo | 24100 | 34000 | 0.2912 | 20,360 | 1303 | 0.7418 | |
| 55 | Wells College | 24100 | 54500 | 0.5573 | 357 | 1084 | 0.6965 | |
| 57 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus | 24400 | 76300 | 0.6804 | 7,703 | 1105 | 0.9556 | |
| 58 | Heidelberg University | 24500 | 48600 | 0.496 | 933 | 1100 | 0.6773 | |
| 59 | Maryville College | 24700 | 58400 | 0.5782 | 1,136 | 1167 | 0.6092 | |
| 59 | Notre Dame of Maryland University | 24700 | 62200 | 0.6033 | 686 | 1030 | 0.8649 | |
| 61 | Rosemont College | 24800 | 38100 | 0.3486 | 484 | 1085 | 0.7451 | |
| 62 | Rockford University | 24900 | 59000 | 0.5771 | 968 | 1045 | 0.5704 | |
| 63 | Dominican University | 25000 | 55500 | 0.5487 | 2,690 | 1035 | 0.9032 | |
| 63 | Oklahoma Baptist University | 25000 | 51700 | 0.5162 | 1,409 | 1110 | 0.6327 | |
| 63 | University of Saint Mary | 25000 | 51800 | 0.5172 | 1,027 | 1045 | 0.8663 | |
| 66 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 25100 | 28000 | 0.103 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 66 | Flagler College | 25100 | 37800 | 0.3362 | 2,409 | 785 | 0.8076 | |
| 68 | Lakeland University | 25300 | 54600 | 0.5363 | 2,318 | 1000 | 0.914 | |
| 68 | St Bonaventure University | 25300 | 61000 | 0.5849 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 68 | St. Mary's University | 25300 | 55900 | 0.5476 | 2,150 | 1084 | 0.9776 | |
| 71 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 72 | Geneva College | 25900 | 48900 | 0.4694 | 1,147 | 1110 | 0.8035 | |
| 72 | Loyola University New Orleans | 25900 | 71100 | 0.636 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 72 | Norwich University | 25900 | 70900 | 0.6349 | 2,642 | 1209 | 0.7361 | |
| 75 | Marquette University | 26000 | 65700 | 0.6039 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 75 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66300 | 0.6079 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 77 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 78 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 78 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 80 | Saint Edward's University | 26700 | 71900 | 0.6283 | 2,731 | 1135 | 0.8369 | |
| 81 | Indiana State University | 26900 | 30900 | 0.1296 | 6,224 | 1140 | 0.8077 | |
| 81 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 26900 | 28800 | 0.0654 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 83 | Webster University | 27000 | 54300 | 0.5024 | 2,091 | 1105 | 0.9594 | |
| 84 | Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus | 27100 | 55200 | 0.5088 | 1,997 | 1160 | 0.9526 | |
| 85 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 86 | Eastern Connecticut State University | 27400 | 37900 | 0.2764 | 4,174 | 1164 | 0.8298 | |
| 86 | Johnson C Smith University | 27400 | 41000 | 0.3314 | 1,252 | 885 | 0.4521 | |
| 86 | McPherson College | 27400 | 47600 | 0.4247 | 876 | 1065 | 0.7676 | |
| 86 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton | 27400 | 40900 | 0.3303 | 3,469 | 1080 | 0.9215 | |
| 90 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 27500 | 36700 | 0.2486 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 91 | Southern Wesleyan University | 27600 | 43500 | 0.3656 | 887 | 1090 | 1 | |
| 92 | Concordia University-Chicago | 27800 | 46400 | 0.4005 | 1,327 | 1100 | 0.9279 | |
| 92 | Mount St. Mary's University | 27800 | 61400 | 0.5468 | 1,833 | 1164 | 0.7381 | |
| 94 | Pacific Lutheran University | 27900 | 71200 | 0.6078 | 2,446 | 1179 | 0.78 | |
| 94 | Randolph-Macon College | 27900 | 69200 | 0.5967 | 1,643 | 1140 | 0.8661 | |
| 94 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 27900 | 32800 | 0.1492 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 97 | Villanova University | 28100 | 88800 | 0.6834 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 98 | Drury University | 28300 | 52900 | 0.4649 | 1,391 | 1228 | 0.5758 | |
| 99 | Assumption University | 28500 | 74400 | 0.6173 | 1,713 | 1085 | 0.8298 | |
| 100 | Framingham State University | 28600 | 38100 | 0.2496 | 2,817 | 1125 | 0.8491 | |
| 101 | University of Akron Main Campus | 28700 | 31500 | 0.0889 | 11,160 | 1069 | 0.5967 | |
| 102 | Regis University | 28800 | 67200 | 0.5711 | 2,704 | 1199 | 0.8639 | |
| 102 | University of Hartford | 28800 | 70100 | 0.5897 | 4,223 | 1224 | 0.9579 | |
| 104 | University of Utah | 29100 | 32000 | 0.0902 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 105 | Delaware State University | 29300 | 36700 | 0.2018 | 4,941 | 960 | 0.6167 | |
| 106 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 107 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.409 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 108 | William Penn University | 29800 | 47200 | 0.3681 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 109 | Cedar Crest College | 30000 | 66000 | 0.5451 | 886 | 1095 | 0.9913 | |
| 109 | Huntington University | 30000 | 44300 | 0.3231 | 1,286 | 1095 | 0.7115 | |
| 111 | Lander University | 30200 | 37000 | 0.1839 | 3,669 | 1060 | 0.6792 | |
| 112 | Crown College | 30300 | 46800 | 0.3528 | 1,379 | 1110 | 0.6281 | |
| 113 | Le Moyne College | 30400 | 53700 | 0.434 | 2,563 | 1240 | 0.7529 | |
| 114 | Baker University | 30500 | 54800 | 0.4447 | 1,264 | 1040 | 0.9418 | |
| 115 | Lasell University | 30900 | 47000 | 0.3423 | 1,293 | 1139 | 0.927 | |
| 116 | Azusa Pacific University | 31000 | 66000 | 0.5305 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 117 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 31200 | 41100 | 0.2411 | 25,255 | 1134 | 0.737 | |
| 118 | North Carolina State University | 31300 | 53000 | 0.4091 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 118 | University of Rhode Island | 31300 | 46700 | 0.3298 | 14,376 | 1148 | 0.7216 | |
| 120 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania | 31400 | 31400 | 0 | 6,853 | 1090 | 0.7147 | |
| 121 | Florida Southern College | 31500 | 63200 | 0.5013 | 2,626 | 1219 | 0.5909 | |
| 122 | Albright College | 32000 | 48700 | 0.343 | 1,328 | 1050 | 0.8615 | |
| 122 | Benedictine College | 32000 | 50800 | 0.3702 | 2,391 | 1229 | 0.7645 | |
| 124 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 32200 | 50000 | 0.3573 | 898 | 1044 | 0.7614 | |
| 124 | Saint Michael's College | 32200 | 68400 | 0.5289 | 1,120 | 1240 | 0.8451 | |
| 126 | Emmanuel College | 32400 | 68300 | 0.5259 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 127 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 127 | The University of Tampa | 32700 | 56900 | 0.425 | 10,594 | 1185 | 0.4034 | |
| 129 | University of Missouri-St Louis | 32800 | 37200 | 0.118 | 12,151 | 1154 | 0.5716 | |
| 130 | Fort Lewis College | 33000 | 41100 | 0.1973 | 3,320 | 1160 | 0.9323 | |
| 130 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 33000 | 40400 | 0.183 | 6,706 | 960 | 0.92 | |
| 132 | Wilkes University | 33400 | 61900 | 0.4597 | 1,956 | 1153 | 0.9146 | |
| 133 | Stockton University | 33600 | 44500 | 0.2451 | 7,565 | 1135 | 0.8894 | |
| 134 | Arkansas State University | 33800 | 41900 | 0.1932 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 135 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 136 | LeTourneau University | 34200 | 54600 | 0.3736 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 137 | St. John Fisher University | 34400 | 63700 | 0.4601 | 2,583 | 1210 | 0.664 | |
| 138 | University of South Florida | 34700 | 34700 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 139 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 140 | Barry University | 35000 | 54600 | 0.3589 | 3,232 | 1015 | 0.7721 | |
| 141 | Chatham University | 35200 | 63300 | 0.4443 | 1,555 | 1197 | 0.6196 | |
| 142 | University of Southern Maine | 36000 | 37100 | 0.0296 | 5,525 | 1129 | 0.7931 | |
| 143 | Mount Saint Mary College | 36100 | 68400 | 0.4723 | 2,141 | 1090 | 0.8888 | |
| 144 | Western Kentucky University | 36200 | 41900 | 0.1361 | 14,151 | 1090 | 0.9387 | |
| 145 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 146 | University of Denver | 36400 | 76800 | 0.5259 | 6,619 | 1323 | 0.7729 | |
| 147 | Concordia University Texas | 36500 | 43600 | 0.1629 | 1,391 | 1110 | 0.9106 | |
| 147 | University of Central Arkansas | 36500 | 38400 | 0.0491 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 149 | Mercer University | 36600 | 60500 | 0.3951 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 149 | Mississippi State University | 36600 | 50500 | 0.2752 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 151 | Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 37700 | 41600 | 0.0933 | 5,187 | 1005 | 0.9229 | |
| 152 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37800 | 51000 | 0.2585 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 153 | Mount Saint Mary's University | 38100 | 80700 | 0.5278 | 1,733 | 1015 | 0.7313 | |
| 154 | Saint Vincent College | 38800 | 60700 | 0.3605 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 154 | Washington State University | 38800 | 53900 | 0.2799 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 156 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | 38900 | 48900 | 0.2045 | 5,731 | 1174 | 0.9064 | |
| 157 | Pacific University | 39200 | 74900 | 0.4763 | 1,589 | 1106 | 0.8956 | |
| 158 | Saint Anselm College | 39300 | 73700 | 0.4668 | 2,094 | 1195 | 0.7805 | |
| 159 | Arcadia University | 39700 | 71600 | 0.4456 | 2,030 | 1185 | 0.8022 | |
| 160 | University of North Carolina Wilmington | 40000 | 40000 | 0 | 15,254 | 1270 | 0.6424 | |
| 161 | Fresno Pacific University | 40300 | 52200 | 0.2276 | 1,616 | 1075 | 0.5752 | |
| 162 | Hofstra University | 41800 | 74600 | 0.4395 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 162 | Howard Payne University | 41800 | 57700 | 0.2754 | 768 | 1025 | 0.6769 | |
| 164 | Union University | 42200 | 64100 | 0.3415 | 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 | Butler University | 43300 | 64500 | 0.3286 | 4,489 | 1279 | 0.8508 | |
| 169 | University of Maryland-College Park | 43800 | 52900 | 0.172 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 170 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 47200 | 58800 | 0.1973 | 849 | 1090 | 0.9947 | |
| 170 | University of Delaware | 47200 | 53200 | 0.1127 | 19,119 | 1303 | 0.6356 | |
| 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 | 51300 | 53200 | 0.0354 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 175 | Drexel University | 51400 | 82600 | 0.3776 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 176 | Mount St. Joseph University | 54200 | 54200 | 0 | 1,545 | 1134 | 0.5915 | |
| 177 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 178 | Clemson University | 61800 | 63700 | 0.0296 | 23,401 | 1343 | 0.3834 | |
| 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 | 79400 | 82500 | 0.0376 | 3,177 | 1204 | 0.8278 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.