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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 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 2 | California State University-Fresno | 12000 | 19600 | 0.3869 | 21,430 | 995 | 0.9638 | |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 4 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 12400 | 27200 | 0.5443 | 39,083 | 1412 | 0.4517 | |
| 5 | Texas State University | 13200 | 23200 | 0.4313 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 6 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13700 | 19400 | 0.2939 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 7 | Texas Tech University | 14000 | 27000 | 0.4813 | 32,580 | 1200 | 0.7265 | |
| 8 | Kansas State University | 14100 | 26100 | 0.4588 | 15,650 | 1164 | 0.8199 | |
| 9 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 14200 | 26500 | 0.463 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 10 | Pittsburg State University | 14500 | 25200 | 0.4241 | 4,491 | 1055 | 0.8727 | |
| 10 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | 14500 | 22700 | 0.3607 | 4,214 | 1090 | 0.8949 | |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 14500 | 27700 | 0.4766 | 7,557 | 1140 | 0.9037 | |
| 10 | Western Carolina University | 14500 | 19600 | 0.2602 | 10,112 | 1130 | 0.818 | |
| 14 | University of North Texas | 14900 | 25400 | 0.4141 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 15 | Central Michigan University | 15200 | 40600 | 0.6257 | 10,219 | 1095 | 0.8982 | |
| 16 | Southeast Missouri State University | 16600 | 30300 | 0.453 | 7,926 | 1080 | 0.6897 | |
| 17 | Ferris State University | 16800 | 31000 | 0.4588 | 8,989 | 1015 | 0.9151 | |
| 18 | California State University-Sacramento | 17400 | 27200 | 0.3601 | 28,226 | 1015 | 0.9343 | |
| 19 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17500 | 33600 | 0.4788 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 20 | Morgan State University | 17900 | 19700 | 0.0915 | 9,027 | 965 | 0.8223 | |
| 21 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4826 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 22 | San Jose State University | 19200 | 29900 | 0.3576 | 28,008 | 0 | 0.8461 | |
| 23 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 19600 | 27200 | 0.2797 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 24 | University of Northern Iowa | 19800 | 24000 | 0.1751 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 25 | The University of Texas at Austin | 20000 | 26900 | 0.2564 | 43,165 | 1335 | 0.2664 | |
| 26 | Carson-Newman University | 20100 | 51700 | 0.6111 | 1,606 | 1110 | 0.9045 | |
| 26 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 20100 | 43700 | 0.5405 | 31,035 | 1366 | 0.5499 | |
| 28 | South Dakota State University | 20500 | 25200 | 0.1866 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 29 | Western Michigan University | 20600 | 31200 | 0.3394 | 13,860 | 1104 | 0.846 | |
| 30 | University of Central Oklahoma | 20900 | 22700 | 0.0793 | 10,454 | 1095 | 0.8176 | |
| 31 | Brenau University | 21200 | 50900 | 0.5837 | 1,273 | 1105 | 0.8778 | |
| 31 | Olivet Nazarene University | 21200 | 88800 | 0.7615 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 33 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3343 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 34 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 21800 | 25400 | 0.1427 | 6,124 | 1159 | 0.8747 | |
| 35 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus | 22200 | 33900 | 0.3449 | 7,353 | 1085 | 0.9077 | |
| 36 | Ball State University | 22400 | 22400 | 0 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 36 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 22400 | 32000 | 0.2999 | 5,205 | 1118 | 0.744 | |
| 38 | Florida State University | 22600 | 25000 | 0.0962 | 32,711 | 1360 | 0.2422 | |
| 39 | University of Memphis | 22700 | 30000 | 0.2437 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 40 | University of Central Missouri | 23200 | 34300 | 0.3244 | 7,584 | 1055 | 0.638 | |
| 41 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 23300 | 33600 | 0.3067 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 42 | Bay Path University | 24100 | 55400 | 0.5648 | 1,278 | 1110 | 0.7381 | |
| 43 | Meredith College | 24200 | 65900 | 0.6327 | 1,206 | 1237 | 0.7418 | |
| 44 | Illinois State University | 25000 | 35200 | 0.2914 | 19,107 | 1115 | 0.8815 | |
| 45 | Michigan State University | 25800 | 28900 | 0.1089 | 41,234 | 1223 | 0.848 | |
| 46 | California State University-Northridge | 26000 | 36600 | 0.2897 | 32,499 | 1005 | 0.9219 | |
| 47 | Iowa State University | 26100 | 42800 | 0.3894 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 48 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 26300 | 48900 | 0.4619 | 5,692 | 1090 | 0.9508 | |
| 48 | University of the Incarnate Word | 26300 | 59900 | 0.5613 | 4,638 | 1035 | 0.9813 | |
| 50 | Georgia Southern University | 26500 | 26700 | 0.0075 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 51 | Columbia College Chicago | 26800 | 60600 | 0.5582 | 5,422 | 0 | 0.7549 | |
| 52 | Kent State University at Kent | 27400 | 28400 | 0.0352 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 53 | Park University | 27500 | 30800 | 0.1072 | 6,238 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 54 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 27600 | 36700 | 0.2476 | 41,303 | 1338 | 0.7975 | |
| 55 | Seattle Pacific University | 27700 | 62600 | 0.5576 | 1,776 | 1188 | 0.8339 | |
| 55 | Weber State University | 27700 | 33300 | 0.1682 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 57 | North Dakota State University | 27800 | 30400 | 0.0858 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 58 | California State University-Long Beach | 28000 | 38400 | 0.2712 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 59 | Marymount University | 28600 | 69500 | 0.5884 | 2,216 | 1095 | 0.8021 | |
| 60 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 60 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 28700 | 78100 | 0.6326 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 62 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 29900 | 65900 | 0.5462 | 566 | 1185 | 0.5628 | |
| 63 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.554 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 63 | Mississippi College | 30200 | 45400 | 0.3352 | 2,724 | 1110 | 0.4928 | |
| 63 | Salem College | 30200 | 55300 | 0.453 | 464 | 1080 | 0.789 | |
| 66 | East Tennessee State University | 30700 | 30700 | 0 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 67 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 31000 | 33200 | 0.0664 | 14,504 | 1145 | 0.7637 | |
| 67 | Oklahoma Christian University | 31000 | 45000 | 0.3105 | 2,012 | 1159 | 0.9707 | |
| 69 | San Francisco State University | 31200 | 45200 | 0.3099 | 20,756 | 1035 | 0.9615 | |
| 70 | Kean University | 31500 | 39600 | 0.2046 | 11,758 | 1035 | 0.7688 | |
| 71 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 72 | Sam Houston State University | 32100 | 39900 | 0.1955 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 73 | University of Bridgeport | 32300 | 60500 | 0.4663 | 1,479 | 1065 | 0.6431 | |
| 74 | Harding University | 32800 | 47000 | 0.3023 | 3,523 | 1193 | 0.3942 | |
| 74 | Liberty University | 32800 | 43900 | 0.2528 | 52,823 | 1181 | 0.9932 | |
| 76 | Appalachian State University | 33500 | 35800 | 0.0642 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 77 | Adrian College | 33600 | 70200 | 0.5215 | 1,678 | 1060 | 0.6843 | |
| 77 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 33600 | 46200 | 0.2729 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 79 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5882 | 11,677 | 1421 | 0.4709 | |
| 79 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 81 | Winthrop University | 33800 | 52500 | 0.3569 | 3,969 | 1130 | 0.7925 | |
| 82 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 34100 | 35100 | 0.0285 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 83 | Auburn University | 34400 | 34400 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 83 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 34400 | 34500 | 0.0029 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 85 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 85 | College for Creative Studies | 34600 | 79600 | 0.5653 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 87 | California Baptist University | 35100 | 65200 | 0.4616 | 8,417 | 1069 | 0.8535 | |
| 88 | Abilene Christian University | 35700 | 60700 | 0.4115 | 3,233 | 1129 | 0.6604 | |
| 89 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | 36200 | 56300 | 0.3569 | 1,817 | 1055 | 0.5187 | |
| 89 | University of Central Arkansas | 36200 | 38400 | 0.0575 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 91 | Converse University | 36600 | 37600 | 0.0266 | 852 | 1140 | 0.6424 | |
| 92 | East Carolina University | 37100 | 40100 | 0.0748 | 21,445 | 1120 | 0.8922 | |
| 93 | Queens University of Charlotte | 37800 | 68200 | 0.4455 | 1,225 | 1235 | 0.5651 | |
| 94 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 37900 | 39900 | 0.0501 | 7,924 | 0 | 0.6024 | |
| 95 | University of New Haven | 38300 | 64900 | 0.4096 | 4,903 | 1180 | 0.6038 | |
| 96 | Suffolk University | 38500 | 73600 | 0.4771 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 96 | Washington State University | 38500 | 53900 | 0.2859 | 14,346 | 1139 | 0.8797 | |
| 98 | Endicott College | 40800 | 63200 | 0.3544 | 3,176 | 1215 | 0.7229 | |
| 99 | New England Institute of Technology | 41900 | 61100 | 0.3145 | 1,718 | 995 | 0.6673 | |
| 100 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 42000 | 61600 | 0.3182 | 893 | 1124 | 0.7174 | |
| 101 | Mercyhurst University | 42500 | 66400 | 0.3601 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 101 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 103 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 43000 | 46200 | 0.0693 | 44,170 | 1327 | 0.4979 | |
| 104 | California College of the Arts | 43300 | 87600 | 0.5056 | 1,004 | 1079 | 0.911 | |
| 105 | University of Florida | 43500 | 45600 | 0.046 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 106 | Texas Christian University | 43700 | 81900 | 0.4664 | 11,049 | 1283 | 0.4449 | |
| 107 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 43800 | 57100 | 0.2315 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 108 | Oregon State University | 44900 | 61900 | 0.2748 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 109 | High Point University | 45700 | 70500 | 0.3518 | 5,006 | 1209 | 0.7683 | |
| 110 | Middle Tennessee State University | 45800 | 45800 | 0 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 111 | Wentworth Institute of Technology | 47900 | 56200 | 0.1476 | 3,965 | 1229 | 0.9121 | |
| 112 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 48600 | 64400 | 0.2454 | 14,657 | 1180 | 0.8368 | |
| 113 | The University of Alabama | 48800 | 48800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 114 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | 49900 | 56400 | 0.1152 | 10,200 | 1346 | 0.6507 | |
| 115 | University of Kentucky | 51000 | 56000 | 0.0893 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 116 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 117 | Pratt Institute-Main | 57300 | 83800 | 0.3163 | 3,967 | 1266 | 0.7325 | |
| 118 | Moore College of Art and Design | 58100 | 85600 | 0.3214 | 390 | 1170 | 0.6051 | |
| 119 | Cornish College of the Arts | 59700 | 75100 | 0.2051 | 502 | 0 | 0.7046 | |
| 120 | The New School | 65400 | 104000 | 0.3711 | 1,449 | 1268 | 0.8333 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.