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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 | California State University-Northridge | 8100 | 36500 | 0.7791 | 32,846 | 1005 | 0.9176 | |
| 2 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 10700 | 21100 | 0.4936 | 7,753 | 1140 | 0.9245 | |
| 3 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 11100 | 28300 | 0.6059 | 8,421 | 1054 | 0.9444 | |
| 4 | California State University-Fresno | 11300 | 54600 | 0.7923 | 21,954 | 995 | 0.9526 | |
| 5 | Northern Arizona University | 12100 | 30400 | 0.6012 | 22,203 | 1129 | 0.8961 | |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 12400 | 31100 | 0.6022 | 39,193 | 1418 | 0.4081 | |
| 7 | Kean University | 13100 | 39200 | 0.6658 | 11,932 | 1040 | 0.7811 | |
| 7 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 13100 | 19400 | 0.3248 | 14,865 | 1175 | 0.9113 | |
| 9 | Eastern Michigan University | 14200 | 33900 | 0.5826 | 10,034 | 1055 | 0.7772 | |
| 9 | San Francisco State University | 14200 | 47700 | 0.7025 | 19,444 | 1035 | 0.9644 | |
| 11 | University of Memphis | 14400 | 26400 | 0.4554 | 15,538 | 1080 | 0.7878 | |
| 12 | Texas State University | 15000 | 26700 | 0.4375 | 39,353 | 1080 | 0.9118 | |
| 13 | Stephen F Austin State University | 15100 | 23400 | 0.3543 | 9,905 | 1055 | 0.8339 | |
| 14 | Central Michigan University | 15400 | 38700 | 0.6019 | 10,238 | 1099 | 0.9104 | |
| 15 | University of Central Missouri | 15700 | 26600 | 0.4094 | 10,397 | 1055 | 0.7439 | |
| 16 | University of North Texas | 15800 | 26100 | 0.3943 | 34,414 | 1094 | 0.7089 | |
| 17 | University of Nebraska at Kearney | 16200 | 30800 | 0.4743 | 4,056 | 1090 | 0.4151 | |
| 18 | Texas Tech University | 16300 | 27100 | 0.3984 | 34,021 | 1195 | 0.6906 | |
| 19 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 16500 | 26500 | 0.3761 | 23,003 | 1164 | 0.7367 | |
| 20 | Morgan State University | 16600 | 30700 | 0.4588 | 9,027 | 965 | 0.8223 | |
| 21 | Sam Houston State University | 16800 | 30300 | 0.4452 | 17,822 | 1035 | 0.9372 | |
| 22 | East Tennessee State University | 17200 | 28300 | 0.3927 | 10,829 | 1124 | 0.8619 | |
| 23 | California State University-Sacramento | 17600 | 30700 | 0.4265 | 28,619 | 1015 | 0.9357 | |
| 23 | East Carolina University | 17600 | 26100 | 0.3256 | 21,693 | 1065 | 0.9003 | |
| 25 | Carson-Newman University | 17700 | 51900 | 0.6592 | 1,912 | 1075 | 0.6381 | |
| 26 | San Jose State University | 18200 | 41100 | 0.5567 | 29,890 | 1135 | 0.8039 | |
| 27 | Maryville University of Saint Louis | 18700 | 48900 | 0.6172 | 5,274 | 1103 | 0.9513 | |
| 28 | Olivet Nazarene University | 18800 | 79300 | 0.7634 | 2,704 | 1104 | 0.5586 | |
| 29 | Valdosta State University | 18900 | 29600 | 0.3614 | 7,199 | 1005 | 0.7769 | |
| 30 | Western Carolina University | 19000 | 20500 | 0.0733 | 10,268 | 1140 | 0.7076 | |
| 31 | Indiana University of Pennsylvania | 19500 | 30600 | 0.3626 | 7,425 | 1074 | 0.9147 | |
| 32 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 19900 | 45100 | 0.559 | 31,536 | 1366 | 0.5457 | |
| 33 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 20300 | 35200 | 0.4229 | 8,513 | 1160 | 0.9261 | |
| 33 | SUNY Buffalo State University | 20300 | 57800 | 0.6485 | 5,196 | 1050 | 0.8422 | |
| 35 | Washington State University | 20600 | 35900 | 0.4276 | 21,400 | 1131 | 0.861 | |
| 36 | Ferris State University | 20800 | 31000 | 0.3295 | 8,980 | 1015 | 0.8237 | |
| 37 | University of Northern Iowa | 21200 | 24800 | 0.144 | 7,800 | 1115 | 0.9313 | |
| 38 | Fashion Institute of Technology | 21500 | 77500 | 0.7223 | 7,880 | 0 | 0.6701 | |
| 39 | South Dakota State University | 21700 | 25200 | 0.1414 | 10,883 | 1115 | 0.9618 | |
| 39 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | 21700 | 25900 | 0.1598 | 6,227 | 1184 | 0.9171 | |
| 41 | University of the Incarnate Word | 22000 | 58000 | 0.6205 | 4,651 | 1010 | 0.9947 | |
| 42 | Florida State University | 22200 | 32100 | 0.3082 | 34,271 | 1369 | 0.2383 | |
| 43 | Columbia College Chicago | 22500 | 63200 | 0.6443 | 4,346 | 0 | 0.738 | |
| 43 | Meredith College | 22500 | 67400 | 0.666 | 1,212 | 1239 | 0.7506 | |
| 43 | Park University | 22500 | 31300 | 0.2816 | 4,657 | 1035 | 0.6904 | |
| 43 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 22500 | 53400 | 0.5791 | 21,469 | 1167 | 0.9061 | |
| 47 | Seattle Pacific University | 22900 | 98900 | 0.7688 | 1,657 | 1174 | 0.9301 | |
| 48 | Judson University | 24000 | 49100 | 0.5122 | 697 | 1010 | 0.8905 | |
| 49 | Abilene Christian University | 24600 | 58800 | 0.5818 | 5,101 | 1149 | 0.6615 | |
| 50 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25400 | 0 | 15,950 | 1185 | 0.8625 | |
| 51 | Southeast Missouri State University | 25600 | 28600 | 0.107 | 7,926 | 1070 | 0.6897 | |
| 52 | Indiana University-Indianapolis | 25900 | 28400 | 0.0902 | 14,834 | 1149 | 0.7803 | |
| 53 | George Fox University | 26400 | 92800 | 0.7157 | 3,530 | 1168 | 0.9282 | |
| 54 | Weber State University | 27100 | 31500 | 0.1399 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 55 | California State University-Long Beach | 27300 | 38800 | 0.2963 | 36,056 | 1135 | 0.4543 | |
| 56 | North Dakota State University | 27400 | 30400 | 0.0976 | 9,762 | 1110 | 0.9496 | |
| 57 | Mississippi Christian University | 27500 | 45100 | 0.3897 | 2,583 | 1222 | 0.8416 | |
| 58 | University of Central Oklahoma | 27600 | 33800 | 0.1833 | 10,777 | 1075 | 0.7812 | |
| 59 | Columbus College of Art & Design | 27700 | 90300 | 0.6931 | 885 | 1080 | 0.6766 | |
| 59 | University of Bridgeport | 27700 | 65800 | 0.5791 | 1,570 | 1000 | 0.8302 | |
| 61 | Winthrop University | 28000 | 38600 | 0.2736 | 4,289 | 1130 | 0.8281 | |
| 62 | Marymount University | 28300 | 99100 | 0.7143 | 2,503 | 1095 | 0.9316 | |
| 63 | Iowa State University | 28700 | 45200 | 0.3663 | 26,346 | 1212 | 0.8793 | |
| 64 | Oregon State University | 28800 | 36700 | 0.2171 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 65 | Lawrence Technological University | 30000 | 99100 | 0.6976 | 2,661 | 1149 | 0.8101 | |
| 65 | Salem College | 30000 | 55300 | 0.4563 | 464 | 1080 | 0.789 | |
| 67 | Rochester Institute of Technology | 30100 | 78300 | 0.6157 | 14,267 | 1363 | 0.6693 | |
| 68 | Oklahoma Christian University | 30600 | 45000 | 0.3185 | 2,098 | 1129 | 0.9654 | |
| 69 | Brenau University | 30800 | 53000 | 0.4193 | 1,336 | 1105 | 0.9317 | |
| 70 | Kent State University at Kent | 30900 | 37500 | 0.1751 | 21,144 | 1104 | 0.7603 | |
| 71 | Suffolk University | 31000 | 83500 | 0.6288 | 4,247 | 1209 | 0.8228 | |
| 72 | Western Michigan University | 31200 | 31200 | 0 | 13,714 | 1089 | 0.9121 | |
| 73 | Pittsburg State University | 31300 | 37100 | 0.1564 | 4,561 | 1055 | 0.5487 | |
| 74 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | 31900 | 78800 | 0.5952 | 1,732 | 1108 | 0.9117 | |
| 75 | Liberty University | 32500 | 44700 | 0.2729 | 52,961 | 1174 | 0.9898 | |
| 76 | University of Illinois Chicago | 32700 | 51300 | 0.3625 | 24,260 | 1174 | 0.7576 | |
| 77 | Cleveland Institute of Art | 32800 | 67800 | 0.5161 | 545 | 1176 | 0.6135 | |
| 78 | Adrian College | 33200 | 70200 | 0.5267 | 1,675 | 1045 | 0.7257 | |
| 78 | Belmont University | 33200 | 72300 | 0.5412 | 7,174 | 1273 | 0.9367 | |
| 78 | Harding University | 33200 | 47800 | 0.3047 | 3,536 | 1184 | 0.7052 | |
| 81 | Baylor University | 33500 | 70400 | 0.5244 | 14,183 | 1302 | 0.5222 | |
| 82 | College for Creative Studies | 33800 | 108300 | 0.6876 | 1,376 | 1100 | 0.9194 | |
| 83 | California Baptist University | 34300 | 69800 | 0.5084 | 8,707 | 1024 | 0.8139 | |
| 83 | George Washington University | 34300 | 81800 | 0.5808 | 11,495 | 1436 | 0.4713 | |
| 85 | Samford University | 34600 | 93800 | 0.6312 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 86 | Bay Path University | 35300 | 57500 | 0.3863 | 1,178 | 1110 | 0.8514 | |
| 87 | Converse University | 36000 | 51200 | 0.2966 | 1,182 | 1129 | 0.6787 | |
| 88 | New England Institute of Technology | 36300 | 89400 | 0.5938 | 1,718 | 1030 | 0.6673 | |
| 89 | University of Central Arkansas | 37700 | 40200 | 0.0637 | 8,238 | 1110 | 0.9157 | |
| 90 | Middle Tennessee State University | 37800 | 48300 | 0.2174 | 18,042 | 1140 | 0.6909 | |
| 91 | Drexel University | 39700 | 86400 | 0.5408 | 12,318 | 1354 | 0.699 | |
| 92 | University of Florida | 42800 | 45700 | 0.0635 | 37,283 | 1406 | 0.2033 | |
| 93 | Marist University | 43000 | 75800 | 0.4326 | 5,644 | 1279 | 0.5599 | |
| 94 | Illinois State University | 43500 | 49100 | 0.1134 | 19,513 | 1115 | 0.8555 | |
| 95 | Wentworth Institute of Technology | 44000 | 71800 | 0.3872 | 4,182 | 1317 | 0.8783 | |
| 96 | Texas Christian University | 44300 | 87400 | 0.4934 | 11,152 | 1268 | 0.4809 | |
| 97 | High Point University | 45100 | 72900 | 0.3812 | 5,135 | 1263 | 0.7531 | |
| 98 | University of New Haven | 46000 | 70700 | 0.3492 | 4,969 | 1219 | 0.5589 | |
| 99 | Appalachian State University | 46500 | 46500 | 0 | 19,732 | 1174 | 0.9388 | |
| 100 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 47200 | 57100 | 0.1733 | 32,545 | 1129 | 0.799 | |
| 101 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 48200 | 51200 | 0.0598 | 43,633 | 1342 | 0.4343 | |
| 102 | University of Kentucky | 48400 | 59900 | 0.1912 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 103 | Michigan State University | 49200 | 56200 | 0.1245 | 41,415 | 1212 | 0.8324 | |
| 103 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 49200 | 58800 | 0.1628 | 25,054 | 1225 | 0.7762 | |
| 105 | The University of Texas at Austin | 49500 | 58900 | 0.1596 | 44,314 | 1356 | 0.2222 | |
| 106 | Moore College of Art and Design | 49800 | 114300 | 0.5643 | 535 | 1292 | 0.5646 | |
| 107 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 50200 | 64400 | 0.2205 | 46,627 | 1366 | 0.492 | |
| 108 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | 50600 | 63800 | 0.2065 | 42,565 | 1339 | 0.7887 | |
| 109 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 53200 | 53300 | 0.0019 | 34,447 | 1273 | 0.8804 | |
| 110 | The University of Alabama | 53700 | 58000 | 0.0741 | 35,621 | 1238 | 0.7117 | |
| 111 | Queens University of Charlotte | 58400 | 72400 | 0.1935 | 1,210 | 1244 | 0.805 | |
| 112 | Auburn University | 59400 | 59400 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 113 | Mercyhurst University | 61100 | 68000 | 0.1014 | 2,214 | 1203 | 0.775 | |
| 114 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | 61300 | 66900 | 0.0837 | 9,827 | 1329 | 0.6737 | |
| 115 | The New School | 61800 | 94500 | 0.3461 | 7,171 | 1268 | 0.5718 | |
| 116 | Pratt Institute-Main | 70300 | 91800 | 0.2342 | 3,734 | 1249 | 0.8638 |
School data is from 2023–2024 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.