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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 | Grace Christian University | 11100 | 42100 | 0.737 | 928 | 1075 | 0.9916 | |
| 3 | Gordon State College | 12300 | 25100 | 0.5101 | 3,179 | 1015 | 0.859 | |
| 4 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 12500 | 28100 | 0.5551 | 8,553 | 1045 | 0.8688 | |
| 5 | University of South Florida | 12900 | 17100 | 0.2454 | 38,525 | 1239 | 0.4319 | |
| 6 | Arkansas Baptist College | 13500 | 24000 | 0.437 | 342 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 13600 | 34600 | 0.6076 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 8 | Western Washington University | 13800 | 31400 | 0.5605 | 13,752 | 1272 | 0.9325 | |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 14000 | 19000 | 0.2634 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.865 | |
| 10 | Lincoln University | 14200 | 32600 | 0.5638 | 1,545 | 890 | 0.6572 | |
| 11 | Northern Illinois University | 14300 | 28800 | 0.5047 | 11,348 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 12 | Stephen F Austin State University | 14700 | 23400 | 0.3714 | 9,129 | 1075 | 0.9399 | |
| 13 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 14800 | 31600 | 0.5323 | 6,907 | 1060 | 0.974 | |
| 14 | Murray State University | 15000 | 27000 | 0.4443 | 7,851 | 1115 | 0.8568 | |
| 14 | Northeastern University | 15000 | 89900 | 0.8331 | 17,432 | 1490 | 0.0522 | |
| 14 | Urshan University | 15000 | 19600 | 0.2352 | 474 | 990 | 0.8378 | |
| 17 | Lander University | 15200 | 24600 | 0.3814 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 18 | Fitchburg State University | 15600 | 33700 | 0.5372 | 3,027 | 1145 | 0.8693 | |
| 19 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 16000 | 25000 | 0.3601 | 2,953 | 975 | 0.8445 | |
| 20 | Dakota Wesleyan University | 16200 | 46400 | 0.6514 | 771 | 1085 | 0.7338 | |
| 21 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6305 | 1,030 | 1093 | 0.8982 | |
| 22 | Lindsey Wilson College | 17300 | 47100 | 0.633 | 1,722 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | Northeastern University Oakland | 17900 | 90000 | 0.8013 | 464 | 1469 | 0.1665 | |
| 24 | Bethel University | 18000 | 35300 | 0.4896 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 25 | California State University-Fullerton | 18400 | 20600 | 0.1045 | 38,760 | 1090 | 0.9052 | |
| 25 | Central Washington University | 18400 | 22700 | 0.1892 | 10,317 | 1045 | 0.9062 | |
| 25 | Southwestern Christian University | 18400 | 26800 | 0.3139 | 380 | 975 | 0.6206 | |
| 28 | East Tennessee State University | 18500 | 26100 | 0.2907 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 29 | Simpson College | 18600 | 60500 | 0.6923 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 29 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.428 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 31 | Quincy University | 18900 | 57900 | 0.6733 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 32 | Carson-Newman University | 19500 | 51900 | 0.6245 | 1,596 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 33 | Lee University | 19600 | 37400 | 0.4762 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 33 | Olivet Nazarene University | 19600 | 61600 | 0.6814 | 2,711 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 33 | University of Arizona | 19600 | 30900 | 0.3663 | 44,848 | 1233 | 0.8614 | |
| 36 | Bethel University | 19800 | 54500 | 0.6376 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 37 | Bellevue University | 20300 | 36400 | 0.4434 | 11,037 | 0 | 0 | |
| 38 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 20500 | 23200 | 0.1164 | 20,444 | 1209 | 0.8499 | |
| 39 | Anna Maria College | 21100 | 54200 | 0.611 | 916 | 885 | 0.503 | |
| 40 | East Central University | 21800 | 36200 | 0.3976 | 2,644 | 1055 | 0.5815 | |
| 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 | |
| 43 | Nelson University | 22300 | 55500 | 0.5982 | 1,479 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 44 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 22400 | 53000 | 0.5768 | 1,472 | 1075 | 0.8459 | |
| 45 | Buena Vista University | 22500 | 59100 | 0.6197 | 1,436 | 1124 | 0.7761 | |
| 46 | University of the Cumberlands | 23000 | 26400 | 0.1289 | 7,612 | 1025 | 0.9881 | |
| 47 | North Central University | 23500 | 43900 | 0.4649 | 759 | 1075 | 0.9898 | |
| 47 | York College of Pennsylvania | 23500 | 45800 | 0.4873 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 49 | Saint Norbert College | 23800 | 63800 | 0.6267 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 50 | Midland University | 23900 | 65300 | 0.6346 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 51 | Judson University | 24200 | 49100 | 0.5069 | 718 | 1015 | 0.4759 | |
| 51 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24200 | 55200 | 0.5611 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 53 | Calumet College of Saint Joseph | 24500 | 41500 | 0.41 | 530 | 895 | 0.4 | |
| 54 | Elmira College | 24800 | 60600 | 0.5907 | 745 | 1250 | 0.7696 | |
| 55 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 25100 | 31900 | 0.2146 | 981 | 1140 | 0.7493 | |
| 56 | Doane University | 25300 | 71000 | 0.644 | 1,315 | 1125 | 0.9801 | |
| 56 | Saint Leo University | 25300 | 50000 | 0.4938 | 7,516 | 1110 | 0.784 | |
| 58 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2955 | 1,203 | 1110 | 0.9646 | |
| 59 | Columbia College | 26400 | 46900 | 0.4371 | 5,207 | 1145 | 0.4714 | |
| 60 | Geneva College | 26500 | 50300 | 0.4737 | 1,260 | 1143 | 0.7905 | |
| 61 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 26800 | 31800 | 0.1573 | 27,132 | 1099 | 0.9617 | |
| 61 | Wingate University | 26800 | 65000 | 0.5871 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 63 | Troy University | 26900 | 34700 | 0.2248 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 63 | William Woods University | 26900 | 58400 | 0.539 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.7096 | |
| 65 | Valley City State University | 27200 | 29300 | 0.0733 | 1,651 | 1055 | 0.9907 | |
| 66 | Kennesaw State University | 27400 | 27400 | 0 | 42,760 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 66 | University of North Georgia | 27400 | 38600 | 0.2905 | 18,322 | 1100 | 0.6794 | |
| 68 | Chestnut Hill College | 28100 | 60100 | 0.5323 | 868 | 995 | 0.7446 | |
| 69 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3222 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 69 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 28300 | 48800 | 0.4197 | 1,793 | 1174 | 0.5589 | |
| 71 | Wayland Baptist University | 28700 | 37300 | 0.2308 | 2,087 | 1010 | 0.5596 | |
| 72 | New England College | 28800 | 65800 | 0.5624 | 1,032 | 930 | 0.9213 | |
| 73 | University of North Texas | 28900 | 37400 | 0.2271 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 74 | East Texas A&M University | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1917 | 9,992 | 1045 | 0.9224 | |
| 75 | William Penn University | 29600 | 48000 | 0.3841 | 1,348 | 1000 | 0.5188 | |
| 76 | Hilbert College | 29900 | 57100 | 0.4764 | 931 | 1080 | 0.972 | |
| 77 | Mercy University | 30100 | 44500 | 0.3237 | 6,774 | 1135 | 0.8584 | |
| 78 | Mount Saint Mary College | 31400 | 68600 | 0.5423 | 2,141 | 1153 | 0.8888 | |
| 79 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31500 | 47100 | 0.332 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 80 | Columbia International University | 31600 | 44800 | 0.2936 | 965 | 1079 | 0.9447 | |
| 81 | Missouri Baptist University | 31700 | 53800 | 0.4116 | 4,958 | 843 | 0.686 | |
| 82 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31900 | 50000 | 0.3626 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 83 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 32000 | 45700 | 0.3 | 7,062 | 965 | 0.928 | |
| 84 | Grand View University | 32400 | 58100 | 0.4416 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 85 | University of Scranton | 32500 | 78700 | 0.5874 | 3,613 | 1250 | 0.8123 | |
| 86 | Pennsylvania College of Technology | 33100 | 45300 | 0.2696 | 4,526 | 0 | 0 | |
| 87 | Liberty University | 33200 | 44600 | 0.2556 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 87 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 33200 | 37200 | 0.1075 | 5,823 | 1115 | 0.8619 | |
| 89 | California Baptist University | 33600 | 65600 | 0.4878 | 8,417 | 1070 | 0.8488 | |
| 89 | Emmanuel College | 33600 | 71400 | 0.5294 | 1,909 | 1255 | 0.7565 | |
| 91 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 55300 | 0.3907 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 91 | Franklin Pierce University | 33700 | 68300 | 0.5063 | 997 | 1174 | 0.9347 | |
| 91 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5881 | 11,677 | 1430 | 0.4709 | |
| 91 | Nova Southeastern University | 33700 | 56100 | 0.3992 | 7,311 | 1165 | 0.7321 | |
| 91 | Touro University | 33700 | 42000 | 0.1974 | 4,872 | 1322 | 0.6083 | |
| 91 | University of Bridgeport | 33700 | 60500 | 0.4431 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 97 | Fisher College | 33900 | 65300 | 0.4807 | 1,536 | 961 | 0.7068 | |
| 98 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54800 | 0.3798 | 3,187 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 98 | Meredith College | 34000 | 64200 | 0.4706 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 100 | Ottawa University-Surprise | 34100 | 67500 | 0.4951 | 837 | 995 | 0.7815 | |
| 101 | Southeastern University | 34400 | 60500 | 0.4312 | 10,172 | 1110 | 0.5298 | |
| 102 | Texas Southern University | 34500 | 42500 | 0.1883 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 102 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 34500 | 41600 | 0.1706 | 9,302 | 1125 | 0.9735 | |
| 104 | Southern New Hampshire University | 34700 | 44300 | 0.2166 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 104 | University of Oregon | 34700 | 40200 | 0.1383 | 20,622 | 1250 | 0.883 | |
| 106 | University of Northern Colorado | 36200 | 39100 | 0.0742 | 6,480 | 1085 | 0.8585 | |
| 107 | Lesley University | 36800 | 54700 | 0.3274 | 1,229 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 108 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 627 | 995 | 0.5931 | |
| 108 | Goldey-Beacom College | 37200 | 40200 | 0.0746 | 697 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 108 | Hardin-Simmons University | 37200 | 49700 | 0.2514 | 1,291 | 1110 | 0.9 | |
| 111 | Queens University of Charlotte | 38100 | 68200 | 0.4411 | 1,225 | 1208 | 0.6208 | |
| 112 | Loyola University Chicago | 41000 | 70600 | 0.4192 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 112 | Ohio Christian University | 41000 | 43100 | 0.0499 | 1,288 | 890 | 0.3797 | |
| 114 | Montreat College | 41900 | 58100 | 0.278 | 781 | 1164 | 0.692 | |
| 115 | Anderson University | 42200 | 53600 | 0.2127 | 3,683 | 1209 | 0.5471 | |
| 116 | University of Mount Olive | 42300 | 50400 | 0.1617 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 117 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 43000 | 45200 | 0.0476 | 454 | 1020 | 0.5271 | |
| 118 | Spelman College | 44200 | 49200 | 0.1026 | 3,417 | 1218 | 0.2487 | |
| 119 | Lees-McRae College | 44600 | 58700 | 0.241 | 873 | 1140 | 0.7678 | |
| 120 | Mercer University | 45200 | 65400 | 0.3085 | 4,690 | 1273 | 0.6889 | |
| 121 | Towson University | 45500 | 46400 | 0.0194 | 16,264 | 1098 | 0.8197 | |
| 122 | University of Delaware | 48400 | 61300 | 0.211 | 20,026 | 1294 | 0.706 | |
| 123 | Beacon College | 48800 | 81800 | 0.4033 | 531 | 0 | 0.4347 | |
| 124 | Elon University | 56400 | 68900 | 0.1815 | 6,452 | 1215 | 0.6635 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.