Recent Articles
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 | Rice University | 4300 | 85500 | 0.9496 | 4,789 | 1535 | 0.08 | |
| 2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4700 | 86800 | 0.9456 | 4,576 | 1535 | 0.0485 | |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | 5700 | 93000 | 0.9389 | 10,013 | 1528 | 0.054 | |
| 4 | Emory University | 8300 | 90100 | 0.9079 | 7,407 | 1499 | 0.1029 | |
| 5 | Georgetown University | 9000 | 92200 | 0.9025 | 7,833 | 1457 | 0.1291 | |
| 6 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University | 9200 | 30500 | 0.6982 | 3,207 | 1050 | 0.8034 | |
| 7 | Arkansas Tech University | 9900 | 22900 | 0.5671 | 8,145 | 1035 | 0.9589 | |
| 8 | University of Notre Dame | 10000 | 86100 | 0.8838 | 8,880 | 1499 | 0.1127 | |
| 9 | Wake Forest University | 10800 | 88400 | 0.8773 | 5,471 | 1457 | 0.2156 | |
| 10 | Brigham Young University | 10900 | 29000 | 0.6237 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 11 | Eastern Washington University | 11800 | 28600 | 0.5884 | 6,951 | 1055 | 0.9437 | |
| 12 | New York University | 12000 | 91800 | 0.869 | 29,060 | 1520 | 0.0923 | |
| 13 | Northern Illinois University | 12300 | 29000 | 0.5744 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 14 | Saginaw Valley State University | 12900 | 28600 | 0.5491 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 15 | Utah State University | 13000 | 30000 | 0.5659 | 25,920 | 1176 | 0.9247 | |
| 16 | University of Virginia-Main Campus | 13100 | 38500 | 0.6596 | 17,901 | 1470 | 0.1681 | |
| 17 | Western Washington University | 13800 | 31600 | 0.5637 | 13,752 | 1218 | 0.9325 | |
| 18 | University of Houston | 14200 | 23600 | 0.3988 | 39,257 | 1249 | 0.7392 | |
| 19 | Trinity University | 14600 | 64800 | 0.7748 | 2,518 | 1402 | 0.2592 | |
| 20 | University of North Texas | 14900 | 25400 | 0.4141 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 21 | University of Southern Maine | 15300 | 23000 | 0.3344 | 5,525 | 1129 | 0.7931 | |
| 22 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15400 | 28100 | 0.452 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 23 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 24 | Grand Valley State University | 16000 | 25300 | 0.368 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 25 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 16400 | 22300 | 0.2643 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 26 | University of Southern California | 16600 | 76000 | 0.7815 | 21,023 | 1485 | 0.1002 | |
| 27 | Arkansas State University | 17000 | 28100 | 0.3952 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 28 | Purdue University-Main Campus | 17200 | 27200 | 0.3671 | 44,170 | 1327 | 0.4979 | |
| 28 | University of Kansas | 17200 | 34900 | 0.5077 | 22,085 | 1176 | 0.9348 | |
| 30 | Eastern Illinois University | 17400 | 27700 | 0.3709 | 6,785 | 1020 | 0.6535 | |
| 31 | Lewis-Clark State College | 17600 | 24400 | 0.2786 | 3,793 | 1010 | 0.9407 | |
| 32 | Bucknell University | 17700 | 88400 | 0.7996 | 3,920 | 1284 | 0.2893 | |
| 32 | University of Rochester | 17700 | 93100 | 0.8101 | 6,580 | 1469 | 0.4008 | |
| 34 | Holy Family University | 17800 | 54000 | 0.67 | 2,650 | 1030 | 0.7104 | |
| 35 | The University of Texas at Dallas | 18200 | 29800 | 0.3899 | 21,858 | 1283 | 0.6513 | |
| 36 | Quincy University | 18500 | 63000 | 0.7067 | 1,072 | 1115 | 0.5093 | |
| 37 | Illinois College | 18900 | 52300 | 0.6391 | 940 | 1054 | 0.7819 | |
| 38 | Mid-America Christian University | 19000 | 36800 | 0.4841 | 1,636 | 0 | 0 | |
| 38 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 19000 | 27000 | 0.2967 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 40 | Lee University | 19900 | 37100 | 0.4631 | 3,271 | 1154 | 0.7052 | |
| 41 | Rutgers University-New Brunswick | 20100 | 38800 | 0.4817 | 36,588 | 1367 | 0.6535 | |
| 41 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | 20100 | 43700 | 0.5405 | 31,035 | 1366 | 0.5499 | |
| 43 | Piedmont University | 20200 | 47200 | 0.572 | 1,159 | 1130 | 0.9328 | |
| 44 | Bridgewater State University | 20800 | 28700 | 0.2752 | 8,172 | 1135 | 0.8919 | |
| 44 | Texas Wesleyan University | 20800 | 69500 | 0.701 | 1,910 | 1045 | 0.6239 | |
| 44 | University of Northern Iowa | 20800 | 24000 | 0.1334 | 7,716 | 1115 | 0.8713 | |
| 47 | University of St Francis | 21200 | 56000 | 0.6211 | 1,338 | 1030 | 0.653 | |
| 48 | Felician University | 21300 | 58700 | 0.6373 | 1,870 | 1005 | 0.9511 | |
| 49 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 22100 | 28000 | 0.2106 | 5,789 | 1115 | 0.5774 | |
| 50 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 51 | Sterling College | 22300 | 53600 | 0.5838 | 670 | 1090 | 0.8916 | |
| 52 | Lewis University | 22600 | 57000 | 0.6037 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 52 | Saint Norbert College | 22600 | 62300 | 0.6373 | 1,970 | 1193 | 0.8574 | |
| 54 | Manchester University | 22800 | 54100 | 0.5778 | 915 | 1044 | 0.913 | |
| 54 | University of South Dakota | 22800 | 26000 | 0.1232 | 7,619 | 1120 | 0.9878 | |
| 56 | Ouachita Baptist University | 23100 | 52200 | 0.558 | 1,729 | 1209 | 0.6752 | |
| 57 | Saint Ambrose University | 23200 | 54500 | 0.5744 | 1,939 | 1085 | 0.7733 | |
| 58 | Averett University | 23300 | 57200 | 0.593 | 1,180 | 1010 | 0.478 | |
| 59 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 60 | Oral Roberts University | 23900 | 55600 | 0.5706 | 5,017 | 1139 | 0.989 | |
| 61 | Hamline University | 24000 | 56500 | 0.5748 | 1,716 | 1145 | 0.8983 | |
| 62 | La Roche University | 24300 | 55400 | 0.5616 | 1,986 | 1150 | 0.7761 | |
| 63 | Minnesota State University Moorhead | 24400 | 26600 | 0.0828 | 3,413 | 1085 | 0.5295 | |
| 64 | Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | 24900 | 46200 | 0.4606 | 1,041 | 1040 | 0.5686 | |
| 64 | Creighton University | 24900 | 56600 | 0.5601 | 4,647 | 1328 | 0.7975 | |
| 66 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion | 25000 | 36600 | 0.3173 | 65,450 | 1203 | 0.8989 | |
| 66 | Illinois State University | 25000 | 35200 | 0.2914 | 19,107 | 1115 | 0.8815 | |
| 68 | Boston College | 25100 | 94600 | 0.7347 | 9,654 | 1490 | 0.1619 | |
| 68 | New Jersey City University | 25100 | 39800 | 0.3697 | 4,209 | 1015 | 0.8918 | |
| 70 | Ball State University | 25400 | 25900 | 0.0193 | 15,189 | 1170 | 0.855 | |
| 71 | La Salle University | 25700 | 58100 | 0.5576 | 2,675 | 1005 | 0.9552 | |
| 72 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 73 | Otterbein University | 26000 | 66500 | 0.6094 | 2,211 | 1114 | 0.8452 | |
| 74 | Iowa State University | 26100 | 42800 | 0.3894 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 75 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 76 | University of Arkansas | 26800 | 30800 | 0.1302 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 77 | University of North Alabama | 26900 | 41500 | 0.352 | 8,078 | 1124 | 0.7054 | |
| 78 | Indiana State University | 27000 | 30900 | 0.1263 | 6,224 | 1140 | 0.8077 | |
| 79 | Troy University | 27400 | 32600 | 0.1594 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 80 | Cornell College | 27500 | 74800 | 0.6328 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 81 | Washburn University | 28200 | 38100 | 0.26 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 82 | Roosevelt University | 28500 | 47600 | 0.401 | 2,605 | 1015 | 0.9427 | |
| 83 | University of Utah | 28800 | 32000 | 0.1002 | 28,064 | 1237 | 0.8598 | |
| 84 | Salem State University | 29400 | 38900 | 0.244 | 4,853 | 1100 | 0.9557 | |
| 85 | University of Connecticut | 29600 | 33200 | 0.1086 | 19,388 | 1324 | 0.5395 | |
| 86 | William Peace University | 29700 | 50200 | 0.4086 | 722 | 1170 | 0.9425 | |
| 87 | Southern Adventist University | 29800 | 46900 | 0.3648 | 2,827 | 1125 | 0.6661 | |
| 87 | Southern Methodist University | 29800 | 81700 | 0.6355 | 7,285 | 1423 | 0.6335 | |
| 89 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | 29900 | 51100 | 0.4151 | 1,477 | 1075 | 0.8068 | |
| 90 | Kent State University at Kent | 30000 | 37500 | 0.2 | 20,841 | 1105 | 0.8634 | |
| 91 | Belmont University | 30200 | 67800 | 0.554 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 91 | Jacksonville University | 30200 | 66200 | 0.5441 | 2,946 | 1195 | 0.5696 | |
| 93 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 30500 | 41800 | 0.2705 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 94 | Ohio Northern University | 30900 | 63500 | 0.5131 | 2,592 | 1289 | 0.7335 | |
| 95 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill | 31100 | 45200 | 0.3121 | 624 | 1115 | 0.9664 | |
| 96 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 97 | McKendree University | 31900 | 52200 | 0.3882 | 1,605 | 1098 | 0.6388 | |
| 98 | University of Scranton | 32400 | 78700 | 0.5881 | 3,613 | 1220 | 0.812 | |
| 99 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Beaver | 32600 | 40200 | 0.1892 | 482 | 1195 | 0.9565 | |
| 100 | California Lutheran University | 32700 | 65800 | 0.5027 | 2,297 | 1258 | 0.7567 | |
| 101 | Hardin-Simmons University | 33300 | 49700 | 0.33 | 1,283 | 1080 | 0.9653 | |
| 102 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Brandywine | 33500 | 40900 | 0.1811 | 1,236 | 1203 | 0.9811 | |
| 103 | Drake University | 33700 | 68500 | 0.5078 | 2,585 | 1226 | 0.6385 | |
| 103 | George Washington University | 33700 | 81800 | 0.5882 | 11,677 | 1421 | 0.4709 | |
| 105 | LeTourneau University | 34000 | 54600 | 0.3772 | 3,184 | 1178 | 0.3801 | |
| 105 | Valparaiso University | 34000 | 62700 | 0.4572 | 2,123 | 1247 | 0.8934 | |
| 107 | University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | 34100 | 35100 | 0.0285 | 33,572 | 1264 | 0.8529 | |
| 108 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 109 | University of Montevallo | 35800 | 46700 | 0.2333 | 2,545 | 1124 | 0.5579 | |
| 110 | Chaminade University of Honolulu | 36200 | 56300 | 0.3569 | 1,817 | 1055 | 0.5187 | |
| 110 | University of Central Arkansas | 36200 | 38400 | 0.0575 | 8,268 | 1110 | 0.8949 | |
| 112 | Ashland University | 36400 | 52700 | 0.3091 | 5,180 | 1145 | 0.8053 | |
| 113 | Farmingdale State College | 36500 | 37800 | 0.0344 | 10,007 | 1145 | 0.6329 | |
| 113 | Florida International University | 36500 | 36800 | 0.0081 | 44,904 | 1175 | 0.5466 | |
| 115 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Abington | 37100 | 38100 | 0.0262 | 2,884 | 1175 | 0.9677 | |
| 116 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 117 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 118 | University of Wyoming | 38600 | 43800 | 0.1187 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 119 | Hofstra University | 38800 | 74600 | 0.4797 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 120 | Cumberland University | 39200 | 47500 | 0.1729 | 2,652 | 1125 | 0.67 | |
| 120 | University of Illinois Chicago | 39200 | 48000 | 0.1832 | 22,495 | 1252 | 0.7735 | |
| 122 | Pace University | 39700 | 74100 | 0.464 | 8,038 | 1274 | 0.7592 | |
| 123 | University of Portland | 40000 | 71700 | 0.4421 | 2,986 | 1277 | 0.8917 | |
| 124 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton | 40100 | 45400 | 0.1167 | 502 | 1204 | 0.9641 | |
| 125 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 40200 | 40200 | 0 | 11,365 | 1216 | 0.8816 | |
| 126 | University of California-San Diego | 40300 | 61100 | 0.3405 | 34,955 | 1375 | 0.2677 | |
| 126 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | 40300 | 56700 | 0.2893 | 40,754 | 1391 | 0.3915 | |
| 128 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 40500 | 40500 | 0 | 4,047 | 1219 | 0.976 | |
| 129 | Manhattan University | 41200 | 71700 | 0.4252 | 2,928 | 1248 | 0.785 | |
| 130 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 131 | York College of Pennsylvania | 41400 | 41400 | 0 | 3,308 | 1135 | 0.942 | |
| 132 | Saint Joseph's University | 42300 | 74500 | 0.4321 | 4,828 | 1234 | 0.8639 | |
| 133 | Bryant University | 42400 | 73800 | 0.4255 | 3,200 | 1265 | 0.6546 | |
| 133 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 135 | Mercyhurst University | 42600 | 66400 | 0.3586 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 135 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | 42600 | 55100 | 0.227 | 42,604 | 1336 | 0.6056 | |
| 137 | University of Maryland-College Park | 42700 | 52900 | 0.1928 | 31,133 | 1456 | 0.448 | |
| 138 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43500 | 50300 | 0.1352 | 34,242 | 1273 | 0.7333 | |
| 138 | University of Florida | 43500 | 45600 | 0.046 | 36,567 | 1399 | 0.242 | |
| 140 | Oregon State University | 44900 | 61900 | 0.2748 | 31,253 | 1272 | 0.773 | |
| 141 | Duquesne University | 45300 | 70500 | 0.3575 | 5,371 | 1269 | 0.8356 | |
| 142 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 143 | University of California-Merced | 48500 | 52300 | 0.0726 | 8,372 | 1070 | 0.9152 | |
| 144 | Savannah College of Art and Design | 48600 | 64400 | 0.2454 | 14,657 | 1180 | 0.8368 | |
| 145 | The University of Alabama | 48800 | 48800 | 0 | 34,389 | 1233 | 0.7665 | |
| 146 | George Mason University | 49200 | 49200 | 0 | 28,331 | 1268 | 0.8748 | |
| 147 | University of Iowa | 51000 | 53200 | 0.0415 | 22,738 | 1208 | 0.8362 | |
| 148 | Drexel University | 51100 | 82600 | 0.3812 | 13,169 | 1339 | 0.7944 | |
| 149 | William Paterson University of New Jersey | 51800 | 57000 | 0.0913 | 6,546 | 1153 | 0.9252 | |
| 150 | University of Washington-Bothell Campus | 55300 | 74600 | 0.2586 | 5,472 | 1214 | 0.906 | |
| 151 | Auburn University | 55400 | 55400 | 0 | 27,907 | 1324 | 0.4593 | |
| 152 | University of California-Davis | 63500 | 63500 | 0 | 32,273 | 1290 | 0.4183 | |
| 153 | Elon University | 65900 | 67300 | 0.0208 | 6,452 | 1244 | 0.6635 | |
| 154 | Loyola Marymount University | 72500 | 94300 | 0.2311 | 7,273 | 1353 | 0.4508 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.