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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 | 5600 | 16700 | 0.6659 | 636 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | 10100 | 41500 | 0.7567 | 8,945 | 1099 | 0.975 | |
| 3 | East Central University | 10500 | 43600 | 0.7592 | 2,976 | 1045 | 0.6181 | |
| 4 | University of Nevada-Las Vegas | 10900 | 27400 | 0.6019 | 27,963 | 1090 | 0.8395 | |
| 5 | Grace Christian University | 11100 | 48400 | 0.7715 | 928 | 1075 | 0.9916 | |
| 6 | Fitchburg State University | 12000 | 33800 | 0.6445 | 3,000 | 1090 | 0.8885 | |
| 7 | Gordon State College | 12100 | 36000 | 0.6642 | 3,179 | 1015 | 0.859 | |
| 8 | University of Illinois Chicago | 12200 | 30200 | 0.5969 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 9 | Texas A&M University-Commerce | 12700 | 30000 | 0.5767 | 9,666 | 1040 | 0.7498 | |
| 10 | Northern Illinois University | 13300 | 32100 | 0.5856 | 12,118 | 1070 | 0.7164 | |
| 11 | Arkansas Baptist College | 13600 | 26800 | 0.4917 | 356 | 0 | 1 | |
| 12 | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 13800 | 22200 | 0.3792 | 11,994 | 1090 | 0.8651 | |
| 13 | Northeastern University Oakland | 14100 | 90000 | 0.8435 | 467 | 1469 | 0.1665 | |
| 14 | University of North Georgia | 14200 | 21400 | 0.3364 | 19,321 | 1100 | 0.9618 | |
| 15 | Mercy University | 14600 | 46400 | 0.6858 | 6,692 | 1135 | 0.8724 | |
| 16 | Troy University | 14800 | 26700 | 0.4456 | 10,130 | 1075 | 0.9535 | |
| 17 | Urshan University | 14900 | 26700 | 0.4424 | 474 | 990 | 0.8378 | |
| 18 | Lander University | 15400 | 24600 | 0.3733 | 3,776 | 1055 | 0.8131 | |
| 19 | University of North Texas at Dallas | 15500 | 25000 | 0.3801 | 2,953 | 975 | 0.8445 | |
| 19 | Valley City State University | 15500 | 23800 | 0.3496 | 1,663 | 1045 | 0.9942 | |
| 21 | Lincoln University | 15800 | 34800 | 0.5454 | 1,424 | 890 | 0.6431 | |
| 21 | University of North Texas | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3943 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 23 | Lindsey Wilson University | 16000 | 48700 | 0.6717 | 1,738 | 1035 | 0 | |
| 24 | University of Northern Colorado | 16300 | 30500 | 0.4656 | 6,598 | 1080 | 0.945 | |
| 25 | Waynesburg University | 16600 | 45000 | 0.6306 | 1,032 | 1093 | 0.8981 | |
| 26 | Bethel University | 17000 | 48700 | 0.6516 | 2,674 | 970 | 0.6023 | |
| 27 | California State University-Monterey Bay | 17200 | 33900 | 0.4925 | 7,402 | 1054 | 0.9684 | |
| 27 | East Tennessee State University | 17200 | 28300 | 0.3927 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 29 | Bethel University | 17500 | 74100 | 0.7637 | 1,065 | 1030 | 0.9766 | |
| 30 | Carson-Newman University | 17700 | 51900 | 0.6592 | 1,912 | 1075 | 0.6381 | |
| 31 | Texas A&M University-San Antonio | 17800 | 52300 | 0.6594 | 6,790 | 965 | 0.9447 | |
| 32 | Northeastern University | 17900 | 90000 | 0.801 | 22,456 | 1481 | 0.0562 | |
| 32 | York College of Pennsylvania | 17900 | 45800 | 0.6097 | 3,369 | 1153 | 0.7374 | |
| 34 | Elmira College | 18000 | 84200 | 0.7864 | 783 | 1391 | 0.8054 | |
| 34 | Southwestern Christian University | 18000 | 26800 | 0.3289 | 380 | 930 | 1 | |
| 36 | Kennesaw State University | 18100 | 27400 | 0.3391 | 46,069 | 1119 | 0.7944 | |
| 36 | Quincy University | 18100 | 80600 | 0.7749 | 1,096 | 1115 | 0.551 | |
| 38 | Bellevue University | 18300 | 41000 | 0.5532 | 11,037 | 0 | 1 | |
| 39 | Malone University | 18400 | 80800 | 0.7723 | 946 | 1080 | 0.7623 | |
| 40 | University of Mary | 18600 | 32600 | 0.4281 | 2,821 | 1175 | 0.753 | |
| 41 | California State University-Fullerton | 18800 | 41600 | 0.5479 | 40,705 | 960 | 0.8811 | |
| 42 | Western Washington University | 19100 | 31400 | 0.3917 | 13,609 | 1199 | 0.9371 | |
| 43 | Piedmont University | 19800 | 47400 | 0.5826 | 1,154 | 1080 | 0.9054 | |
| 44 | Southern Oregon University | 20300 | 73600 | 0.7244 | 4,235 | 1104 | 0.8862 | |
| 44 | Syracuse University | 20300 | 83600 | 0.7572 | 16,149 | 1374 | 0.4879 | |
| 46 | Saint Leo University | 20600 | 50000 | 0.5878 | 7,519 | 1110 | 0.7877 | |
| 47 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 20900 | 24900 | 0.1606 | 5,823 | 1115 | 0.8619 | |
| 48 | Anna Maria College | 21100 | 54400 | 0.6123 | 916 | 885 | 0.5015 | |
| 49 | Texas Southern University | 21300 | 38900 | 0.4524 | 6,844 | 915 | 0.9691 | |
| 50 | Nelson University | 21500 | 64000 | 0.664 | 1,526 | 990 | 0.8902 | |
| 51 | Indiana Institute of Technology | 21600 | 48800 | 0.5575 | 1,650 | 1055 | 0.7039 | |
| 52 | Grand Canyon University | 21700 | 34000 | 0.3613 | 75,936 | 1075 | 0.7891 | |
| 53 | Utah State University | 21800 | 38800 | 0.4382 | 26,629 | 1168 | 0.9212 | |
| 54 | Buena Vista University | 22200 | 59100 | 0.6244 | 836 | 1075 | 0.6497 | |
| 54 | Upper Iowa University | 22200 | 41700 | 0.4671 | 3,054 | 1035 | 0.9646 | |
| 56 | Murray State University | 22500 | 27600 | 0.1838 | 8,217 | 1124 | 0.8413 | |
| 56 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 22500 | 22500 | 0 | 20,786 | 1225 | 0.8689 | |
| 58 | University of the Cumberlands | 22600 | 26400 | 0.1447 | 7,612 | 1025 | 0.9881 | |
| 59 | Central Washington University | 23400 | 27900 | 0.1615 | 10,033 | 1060 | 0.9061 | |
| 60 | Midland University | 23500 | 64300 | 0.6354 | 1,309 | 1045 | 0.6612 | |
| 61 | Columbia College | 23600 | 40200 | 0.413 | 876 | 1025 | 0.8878 | |
| 62 | Dominican University | 23800 | 56000 | 0.5754 | 2,642 | 1005 | 0.8879 | |
| 63 | Judson University | 24000 | 49100 | 0.5122 | 697 | 1010 | 0.8905 | |
| 64 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | 24600 | 56700 | 0.5672 | 957 | 1233 | 0.7816 | |
| 65 | University of South Florida | 24700 | 36500 | 0.3229 | 39,093 | 1255 | 0.4071 | |
| 66 | Doane University | 24800 | 92100 | 0.7309 | 1,758 | 1124 | 0.9633 | |
| 67 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 24900 | 62800 | 0.6039 | 1,495 | 1075 | 0.8761 | |
| 68 | Le Moyne College | 25300 | 58200 | 0.5656 | 2,494 | 1250 | 0.6782 | |
| 68 | Saint Norbert College | 25300 | 63000 | 0.598 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 70 | Shorter University | 25700 | 36500 | 0.2956 | 1,203 | 1110 | 0.9646 | |
| 70 | William Woods University | 25700 | 59900 | 0.5711 | 1,342 | 1140 | 0.7118 | |
| 72 | Earlham College | 26100 | 75800 | 0.6554 | 670 | 1237 | 0.7904 | |
| 73 | Geneva College | 26300 | 50300 | 0.478 | 1,299 | 1167 | 0.9556 | |
| 73 | Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary & Graduate School | 26300 | 70000 | 0.6242 | 1,793 | 1174 | 0.5589 | |
| 73 | Simpson College | 26300 | 67100 | 0.6084 | 1,235 | 1430 | 0.8622 | |
| 76 | Franklin Pierce University | 26400 | 68300 | 0.6131 | 997 | 1174 | 0.9347 | |
| 77 | Wingate University | 26600 | 67100 | 0.6041 | 2,673 | 1100 | 0.9113 | |
| 78 | Wayland Baptist University | 26700 | 36500 | 0.2683 | 1,894 | 1045 | 0.5477 | |
| 79 | New England College | 27400 | 65900 | 0.5844 | 1,049 | 930 | 0.8584 | |
| 80 | Chestnut Hill College | 27500 | 87000 | 0.6841 | 868 | 995 | 0.7446 | |
| 81 | University of Bridgeport | 27700 | 65800 | 0.5791 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 82 | North Central University | 28000 | 48400 | 0.4211 | 759 | 1075 | 0.9898 | |
| 83 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | 28300 | 41800 | 0.3223 | 1,795 | 1130 | 0.8215 | |
| 84 | William Penn University | 29200 | 48000 | 0.3928 | 1,366 | 1035 | 0.7311 | |
| 85 | Towson University | 29900 | 30100 | 0.0066 | 16,361 | 1082 | 0.8057 | |
| 85 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 29900 | 35400 | 0.1571 | 982 | 1168 | 0.741 | |
| 87 | Southeastern University | 30800 | 79400 | 0.6123 | 11,981 | 1110 | 0.4247 | |
| 88 | Southern Wesleyan University | 31100 | 47100 | 0.3408 | 784 | 1170 | 0.9953 | |
| 89 | Columbia International University | 31200 | 44800 | 0.3029 | 1,084 | 1079 | 0.9371 | |
| 90 | Missouri Baptist University | 31300 | 53800 | 0.4193 | 5,253 | 910 | 0.7062 | |
| 91 | Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | 31500 | 50000 | 0.3709 | 858 | 975 | 0.7239 | |
| 92 | Elon University | 32000 | 69900 | 0.5426 | 6,191 | 1283 | 0.6326 | |
| 93 | Anderson University | 32200 | 54700 | 0.4116 | 3,724 | 1209 | 0.5491 | |
| 94 | Belmont Abbey College | 32300 | 39000 | 0.1716 | 1,300 | 1094 | 0.7465 | |
| 94 | Nova Southeastern University | 32300 | 56100 | 0.4241 | 7,057 | 1187 | 0.7557 | |
| 94 | University of Scranton | 32300 | 78700 | 0.5902 | 3,689 | 1245 | 0.8006 | |
| 97 | Liberty University | 32500 | 44700 | 0.2729 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 98 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs | 32600 | 41600 | 0.2163 | 9,040 | 1119 | 0.9666 | |
| 99 | Grand View University | 32700 | 60300 | 0.4575 | 1,500 | 1020 | 0.9909 | |
| 100 | University of Oregon | 32900 | 40200 | 0.1826 | 20,710 | 1193 | 0.8742 | |
| 101 | Seton Hill University | 33100 | 63700 | 0.4805 | 1,502 | 1134 | 0.7953 | |
| 102 | Elizabethtown College | 33600 | 57500 | 0.4154 | 1,935 | 1214 | 0.8892 | |
| 102 | Spring Arbor University | 33600 | 52700 | 0.3618 | 1,133 | 1124 | 0.6518 | |
| 104 | Fisher College | 33700 | 65300 | 0.4842 | 1,544 | 961 | 0.8263 | |
| 105 | Lee University | 34200 | 39100 | 0.1253 | 3,425 | 1154 | 0.7138 | |
| 106 | California Baptist University | 34300 | 69800 | 0.5084 | 8,707 | 1024 | 0.8139 | |
| 106 | George Washington University | 34300 | 81800 | 0.5808 | 11,495 | 1436 | 0.4713 | |
| 108 | Washburn University | 34500 | 38400 | 0.1015 | 5,427 | 1048 | 1 | |
| 109 | Hilbert College | 35000 | 52900 | 0.3382 | 931 | 1080 | 0.9724 | |
| 110 | Southern New Hampshire University | 35300 | 64600 | 0.4536 | 164,423 | 965 | 0.9951 | |
| 111 | Goldey-Beacom College | 36800 | 40200 | 0.0849 | 701 | 0 | 0.8451 | |
| 112 | Bluefield University | 37200 | 43200 | 0.1389 | 627 | 995 | 0.5931 | |
| 113 | Touro University | 38300 | 41500 | 0.0772 | 4,872 | 1316 | 0.6083 | |
| 114 | Crown College | 38400 | 53200 | 0.2786 | 1,523 | 1060 | 0.2278 | |
| 115 | Loyola University Chicago | 38800 | 73100 | 0.469 | 12,640 | 1262 | 0.751 | |
| 116 | Simmons University | 39000 | 57800 | 0.3255 | 1,676 | 1317 | 0.7008 | |
| 117 | Ohio Christian University | 40600 | 43100 | 0.0595 | 1,288 | 890 | 0.3797 | |
| 118 | Montreat College | 41500 | 58100 | 0.2852 | 781 | 1164 | 0.692 | |
| 119 | University of Mount Olive | 41800 | 50400 | 0.1699 | 1,944 | 1075 | 0.7575 | |
| 120 | Lesley University | 42500 | 57500 | 0.2609 | 1,230 | 1115 | 0.9687 | |
| 120 | University of Arizona | 42500 | 48600 | 0.1254 | 43,294 | 1186 | 0.8351 | |
| 122 | Central Christian College of Kansas | 42600 | 45200 | 0.0568 | 454 | 1020 | 0.528 | |
| 123 | Georgia Gwinnett College | 43800 | 58100 | 0.2463 | 12,245 | 995 | 0.955 | |
| 124 | Lees-McRae College | 44100 | 58700 | 0.2481 | 869 | 1140 | 0.8036 | |
| 125 | LeTourneau University | 44600 | 57300 | 0.2215 | 2,903 | 1242 | 0.4879 | |
| 126 | Mercer University | 45400 | 65400 | 0.3058 | 4,719 | 1263 | 0.643 | |
| 127 | University of Delaware | 47700 | 62400 | 0.2365 | 19,287 | 1302 | 0.6924 | |
| 128 | Mount Saint Mary College | 48500 | 68800 | 0.2951 | 2,749 | 1153 | 0.892 | |
| 129 | Beacon College | 48700 | 113000 | 0.5689 | 531 | 0 | 0.1677 | |
| 130 | Queens University of Charlotte | 58400 | 72400 | 0.1935 | 1,210 | 1244 | 0.805 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.