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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 | Northwest Indian College | 5300 | 16400 | 0.6766 | 636 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Stephen F Austin State University | 10100 | 27800 | 0.6356 | 9,129 | 1075 | 0.9399 | |
| 3 | East Central University | 10700 | 24700 | 0.5673 | 2,644 | 1055 | 0.5815 | |
| 4 | Grace Christian University | 11100 | 42100 | 0.737 | 928 | 1075 | 0.9916 | |
| 5 | Arkansas Baptist College | 13500 | 24000 | 0.437 | 342 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | University of Delaware | 13500 | 34500 | 0.6079 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 8 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 13700 | 25000 | 0.4513 | 2,953 | 975 | 0.8445 | |
| 9 | Lincoln University | 14200 | 32600 | 0.5638 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5048 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 11 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 14800 | 31600 | 0.5323 | 6,907 | 1060 | 0.974 | |
| 12 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 17,432 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 12 | Urshan University | 15000 | 19600 | 0.2352 | 474 | 990 | 0.8378 | |
| 14 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 15 | Troy University | 15400 | 26700 | 0.4231 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 16 | Fitchburg State University | 15600 | 33700 | 0.5372 | 3,027 | 1145 | 0.8693 | |
| 16 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15600 | 31000 | 0.4964 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 18 | Dakota Wesleyan University | 16200 | 46400 | 0.6514 | 771 | 1085 | 0.7338 | |
| 19 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6305 | 1,030 | 1093 | 0.8982 | |
| 20 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 17200 | 29800 | 0.4223 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 21 | Lindsey Wilson College | 17300 | 47100 | 0.633 | 1,722 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | Northeastern University Oakland | 17500 | 90000 | 0.8057 | 464 | 1469 | 0.1665 | |
| 23 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 17600 | 27400 | 0.3575 | 27,132 | 1099 | 0.9617 | |
| 24 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 17800 | 22200 | 0.1986 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 25 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 26 | Towson University | 18200 | 29900 | 0.3909 | 16,264 | 1098 | 0.8197 | |
| 27 | California State University-Fullerton | 18300 | 20600 | 0.1108 | 38,760 | 1090 | 0.9052 | |
| 28 | Central Washington University | 18400 | 22700 | 0.1892 | 10,317 | 1045 | 0.9062 | |
| 28 | Southwestern Christian University | 18400 | 26800 | 0.3139 | 380 | 975 | 0.6206 | |
| 30 | Simpson College | 18600 | 60500 | 0.6923 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 30 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.428 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 32 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 33 | Carson-Newman University | 19500 | 51900 | 0.6245 | 1,596 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 34 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 34 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6819 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 36 | Bethel University | 19800 | 54500 | 0.6363 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 37 | Bellevue University | 20200 | 36400 | 0.4442 | 11,037 | 0 | 0 | |
| 38 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20400 | 23200 | 0.1207 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 39 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 20900 | 24900 | 0.1606 | 5,823 | 1115 | 0.8619 | |
| 40 | Anna Maria College | 21100 | 54200 | 0.6109 | 916 | 885 | 0.503 | |
| 41 | Gordon State College | 22200 | 35300 | 0.3714 | 3,179 | 1015 | 0.859 | |
| 41 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.467 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 41 | Washburn University | 22200 | 29500 | 0.2478 | 5,331 | 1095 | 0.9551 | |
| 44 | Nelson University | 22300 | 55500 | 0.5982 | 1,479 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 45 | Buena Vista University | 22400 | 59100 | 0.6212 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 45 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 22400 | 53000 | 0.5768 | 1,472 | 1075 | 0.8459 | |
| 47 | Murray State University | 22800 | 27600 | 0.1734 | 7,851 | 1115 | 0.8568 | |
| 47 | University of the Cumberlands | 22800 | 26400 | 0.1339 | 7,612 | 1025 | 0.9881 | |
| 49 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 23300 | 30300 | 0.2302 | 981 | 1140 | 0.7493 | |
| 50 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23400 | 45800 | 0.4895 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 51 | East Tennessee State University | 23500 | 30600 | 0.2318 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 51 | North Central University | 23500 | 43900 | 0.4649 | 759 | 1075 | 0.9898 | |
| 53 | Midland University | 23800 | 65300 | 0.6351 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 53 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 55 | Judson University | 24100 | 49100 | 0.5086 | 718 | 1015 | 0.4759 | |
| 56 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 24200 | 34600 | 0.3005 | 4,526 | 0 | 0 | |
| 56 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24200 | 55200 | 0.5626 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 58 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 24500 | 41500 | 0.41 | 530 | 895 | 0.4 | |
| 59 | Elmira College | 24800 | 60600 | 0.5907 | 745 | 1250 | 0.7696 | |
| 60 | Doane University | 25300 | 71000 | 0.644 | 1,315 | 1125 | 0.9801 | |
| 60 | Saint Leo University | 25300 | 50000 | 0.4938 | 7,516 | 1110 | 0.784 | |
| 62 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2955 | 1,203 | 1110 | 0.9646 | |
| 63 | Columbia College | 26400 | 46900 | 0.4372 | 5,207 | 1145 | 0.4714 | |
| 63 | Geneva College | 26400 | 50300 | 0.4753 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 65 | Wingate University | 26700 | 65000 | 0.5891 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 66 | William Woods University | 26900 | 58400 | 0.539 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 67 | University of Arizona | 27100 | 38100 | 0.2888 | 44,848 | 1233 | 0.8614 | |
| 67 | Valley City State University | 27100 | 29300 | 0.0777 | 1,651 | 1055 | 0.9907 | |
| 69 | Kennesaw State University | 27400 | 27400 | 0 | 42,760 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 69 | University of North Georgia | 27400 | 38600 | 0.2905 | 18,322 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 71 | Chestnut Hill College | 28100 | 60100 | 0.5323 | 868 | 995 | 0.7446 | |
| 72 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3222 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 72 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 28300 | 48800 | 0.4197 | 1,793 | 1174 | 0.5589 | |
| 74 | Wayland Baptist University | 28700 | 37300 | 0.2308 | 2,087 | 1010 | 0.5596 | |
| 75 | New England College | 28800 | 65800 | 0.5624 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 76 | University of North Texas | 28900 | 37400 | 0.2271 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 77 | East Texas A&M University | 29400 | 36500 | 0.1945 | 9,992 | 1045 | 0.9224 | |
| 78 | William Penn University | 29500 | 48000 | 0.3868 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 79 | Hilbert College | 29900 | 57100 | 0.4764 | 931 | 1080 | 0.972 | |
| 80 | Mercy University | 30100 | 44500 | 0.3237 | 6,774 | 1135 | 0.8584 | |
| 81 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31400 | 68600 | 0.5423 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 81 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31400 | 47100 | 0.3347 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 83 | Columbia International University | 31500 | 44800 | 0.2965 | 965 | 1079 | 0.9447 | |
| 83 | Missouri Baptist University | 31500 | 53800 | 0.414 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 85 | Grand View University | 31800 | 58100 | 0.4525 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 85 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31800 | 50000 | 0.3652 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 87 | University of Scranton | 32300 | 78700 | 0.5891 | 3,613 | 1250 | 0.8123 | |
| 88 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 89 | California Baptist University | 33400 | 65600 | 0.4908 | 8,417 | 1070 | 0.8488 | |
| 90 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 90 | Franklin Pierce University | 33600 | 68300 | 0.5077 | 997 | 1174 | 0.9347 | |
| 92 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 55300 | 0.3907 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 92 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5881 | 11,677 | 1430 | 0.4709 | |
| 92 | Nova Southeastern University | 33700 | 56100 | 0.3992 | 7,311 | 1165 | 0.7321 | |
| 92 | University of Bridgeport | 33700 | 60500 | 0.4431 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 96 | Fisher College | 33800 | 65300 | 0.4818 | 1,536 | 961 | 0.7068 | |
| 97 | LeTourneau University | 33900 | 54800 | 0.3817 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 97 | Meredith College | 33900 | 64200 | 0.4721 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 99 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 34100 | 67500 | 0.4951 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 100 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 101 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 101 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 34500 | 41600 | 0.1706 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 103 | Southern New Hampshire University | 34700 | 44300 | 0.2166 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 104 | University of South Florida | 35000 | 35000 | 0 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 105 | Hardin-Simmons University | 35700 | 49700 | 0.2816 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.9 | |
| 105 | Touro University | 35700 | 42000 | 0.1498 | 4,872 | 1322 | 0.6083 | |
| 107 | University of Northern Colorado | 36200 | 39100 | 0.0742 | 6,480 | 1085 | 0.8585 | |
| 108 | Lesley University | 36800 | 54700 | 0.3274 | 1,229 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 109 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37100 | 40200 | 0.0778 | 697 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 110 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 627 | 995 | 0.5931 | |
| 111 | Queens University of Charlotte | 38100 | 68200 | 0.4411 | 1,225 | 1208 | 0.6208 | |
| 112 | Ohio Christian University | 40000 | 42300 | 0.0539 | 1,288 | 890 | 0.3797 | |
| 113 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 114 | Montreat College | 41800 | 58100 | 0.2803 | 781 | 1164 | 0.692 | |
| 114 | Western Washington University | 41800 | 51500 | 0.1885 | 13,752 | 1272 | 0.9325 | |
| 116 | University of Mount Olive | 42100 | 50400 | 0.1643 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 117 | Anderson University | 42200 | 53600 | 0.2127 | 3,683 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 118 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 42900 | 45200 | 0.0505 | 454 | 1020 | 0.5271 | |
| 119 | Spelman College | 44100 | 49200 | 0.1032 | 3,417 | 1218 | 0.2487 | |
| 120 | Lees-McRae College | 44400 | 58700 | 0.2432 | 873 | 1140 | 0.7678 | |
| 121 | Beacon College | 48800 | 81800 | 0.4033 | 531 | 0 | 0.4347 | |
| 122 | Mercer University | 48900 | 63700 | 0.2324 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 123 | Elon University | 56300 | 68900 | 0.183 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 | |
| 124 | University of Oregon | 66700 | 68900 | 0.0331 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.