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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 | Patrick Henry College | 5800 | 42000 | 0.8613 | 425 | 1345 | 0.7744 | |
| 2 | Washington University in St Louis | 9400 | 96200 | 0.9026 | 8,220 | 1513 | 0.1206 | |
| 3 | Francis Marion University | 9800 | 25400 | 0.6139 | 3,635 | 1015 | 0.8639 | |
| 4 | Arkansas Tech University | 9900 | 22900 | 0.5671 | 8,145 | 1055 | 0.9589 | |
| 5 | Valdosta State University | 10500 | 24800 | 0.5776 | 7,206 | 1015 | 0.7214 | |
| 6 | The University of Tennessee-Martin | 11500 | 24800 | 0.5368 | 6,817 | 1110 | 0.882 | |
| 7 | Tennessee State University | 11900 | 30300 | 0.6068 | 5,057 | 980 | 0.7018 | |
| 8 | Northern Illinois University | 12400 | 29000 | 0.5718 | 11,349 | 1070 | 0.6979 | |
| 9 | Brigham Young University | 12500 | 29000 | 0.5686 | 32,221 | 1374 | 0.6919 | |
| 9 | University of West Florida | 12500 | 21500 | 0.4181 | 9,661 | 1120 | 0.5687 | |
| 11 | University of Maine at Farmington | 12900 | 26500 | 0.5142 | 1,677 | 1124 | 0.9672 | |
| 12 | Saginaw Valley State University | 13000 | 28600 | 0.5446 | 6,152 | 1050 | 0.7207 | |
| 13 | Texas State University | 13200 | 23200 | 0.4313 | 36,268 | 1100 | 0.8908 | |
| 13 | The University of Texas Permian Basin | 13200 | 37100 | 0.6437 | 4,218 | 1020 | 0.9307 | |
| 15 | Louisiana Tech University | 13800 | 24900 | 0.4451 | 11,071 | 1164 | 0.9073 | |
| 15 | Wichita State University | 13800 | 29800 | 0.5369 | 14,280 | 1094 | 0.7211 | |
| 17 | Oklahoma State University-Main Campus | 14300 | 26500 | 0.4594 | 22,351 | 1159 | 0.7504 | |
| 17 | University of Idaho | 14300 | 26400 | 0.458 | 9,574 | 1119 | 0.7553 | |
| 19 | Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | 14400 | 41100 | 0.6502 | 8,975 | 1045 | 0.9721 | |
| 19 | The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | 14400 | 25600 | 0.4367 | 9,982 | 1125 | 0.7702 | |
| 21 | Midwestern State University | 14500 | 21600 | 0.3283 | 4,508 | 1055 | 0.8738 | |
| 22 | Northwest Missouri State University | 14600 | 27900 | 0.476 | 5,241 | 1075 | 0.8613 | |
| 23 | Coastal Carolina University | 15300 | 27200 | 0.4375 | 10,811 | 1145 | 0.7527 | |
| 23 | Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | 15300 | 28100 | 0.4555 | 8,553 | 1054 | 0.8688 | |
| 25 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | 15500 | 24800 | 0.3744 | 30,187 | 1292 | 0.6015 | |
| 26 | North Carolina State University | 15600 | 27500 | 0.4331 | 28,422 | 1335 | 0.4167 | |
| 27 | University of Nebraska at Omaha | 15900 | 23400 | 0.3209 | 11,756 | 1124 | 0.8727 | |
| 28 | Washburn University | 16000 | 25200 | 0.3646 | 5,331 | 1015 | 1 | |
| 29 | Grand Valley State University | 16200 | 25300 | 0.3601 | 19,002 | 1233 | 0.8302 | |
| 29 | Lehigh University | 16200 | 85700 | 0.8114 | 5,911 | 1436 | 0.2593 | |
| 31 | Oakland University | 16600 | 28000 | 0.4077 | 12,587 | 1050 | 0.8784 | |
| 31 | The University of Texas at Tyler | 16600 | 24900 | 0.3329 | 7,683 | 1120 | 0.9402 | |
| 33 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 16800 | 22300 | 0.2464 | 24,868 | 1214 | 0.796 | |
| 33 | Weber State University | 16800 | 22100 | 0.24 | 31,672 | 1075 | 1 | |
| 35 | Jacksonville State University | 17000 | 26600 | 0.3612 | 8,663 | 1065 | 0.7769 | |
| 35 | University of Georgia | 17000 | 27100 | 0.3702 | 31,514 | 1336 | 0.3719 | |
| 37 | Sam Houston State University | 17500 | 23000 | 0.2392 | 17,787 | 1030 | 0.9026 | |
| 37 | Virginia Commonwealth University | 17500 | 33600 | 0.4788 | 21,210 | 1171 | 0.9232 | |
| 39 | University of Arkansas | 18000 | 27700 | 0.3491 | 28,859 | 1179 | 0.7431 | |
| 40 | Georgia Southern University | 18200 | 23800 | 0.2357 | 23,618 | 1065 | 0.8789 | |
| 41 | Union College | 18300 | 91000 | 0.799 | 2,065 | 1393 | 0.4392 | |
| 42 | Greensboro College | 18500 | 37800 | 0.5105 | 899 | 1005 | 0.7014 | |
| 43 | East Tennessee State University | 18600 | 26300 | 0.293 | 10,633 | 1124 | 0.8706 | |
| 44 | Eastern Michigan University | 18700 | 36100 | 0.4817 | 10,470 | 1055 | 0.7964 | |
| 45 | Georgia College & State University | 18900 | 21600 | 0.1248 | 6,006 | 1155 | 0.8779 | |
| 45 | Saint Cloud State University | 18900 | 24500 | 0.2311 | 8,013 | 1094 | 0.9495 | |
| 45 | University of Mississippi | 18900 | 45500 | 0.5851 | 21,585 | 1182 | 0.9658 | |
| 45 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | 18900 | 18900 | 0 | 14,449 | 1195 | 0.7816 | |
| 49 | University of Memphis | 19100 | 26400 | 0.277 | 15,770 | 1075 | 0.7203 | |
| 50 | Youngstown State University | 19300 | 29300 | 0.3409 | 8,436 | 1065 | 0.8066 | |
| 51 | Loyola University New Orleans | 19500 | 71100 | 0.726 | 3,032 | 1145 | 0.9305 | |
| 51 | Western Kentucky University | 19500 | 26800 | 0.2717 | 14,151 | 960 | 0.9387 | |
| 53 | Georgia State University | 19800 | 26000 | 0.2386 | 27,438 | 1089 | 0.5543 | |
| 54 | The University of Texas at Arlington | 19900 | 27200 | 0.2687 | 31,112 | 1130 | 0.8129 | |
| 55 | University of Wyoming | 20000 | 26700 | 0.2497 | 8,130 | 1159 | 0.9688 | |
| 56 | Marshall University | 20500 | 36300 | 0.4356 | 9,165 | 1065 | 0.9572 | |
| 57 | South Dakota State University | 20600 | 25200 | 0.1814 | 10,728 | 1120 | 0.9834 | |
| 57 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 20600 | 30000 | 0.3138 | 13,179 | 1110 | 0.8883 | |
| 59 | Allegheny College | 20700 | 75200 | 0.7244 | 1,171 | 1269 | 0.5452 | |
| 59 | West Virginia University | 20700 | 28800 | 0.2815 | 18,614 | 1125 | 0.778 | |
| 61 | Niagara University | 20800 | 57400 | 0.6374 | 2,692 | 970 | 0.3972 | |
| 62 | Western Illinois University | 20900 | 31000 | 0.3266 | 5,025 | 990 | 0.7496 | |
| 63 | Tarleton State University | 21000 | 23000 | 0.087 | 15,130 | 0 | 0.5256 | |
| 63 | Wheaton College | 21000 | 82000 | 0.7438 | 2,119 | 1351 | 0.8998 | |
| 65 | Northern Arizona University | 21300 | 32000 | 0.3349 | 22,991 | 1145 | 0.8961 | |
| 66 | Louisiana Christian University | 21500 | 26000 | 0.1733 | 803 | 1065 | 0.8379 | |
| 66 | University of Miami | 21500 | 70800 | 0.6967 | 13,250 | 1406 | 0.189 | |
| 68 | Dillard University | 21600 | 50400 | 0.5717 | 1,117 | 1080 | 0.4051 | |
| 69 | Cleveland State University | 21700 | 30900 | 0.2974 | 9,418 | 1005 | 0.913 | |
| 70 | Bentley University | 22000 | 84500 | 0.7394 | 4,526 | 1359 | 0.4505 | |
| 71 | Bradley University | 22200 | 48300 | 0.5396 | 3,596 | 1174 | 0.7675 | |
| 72 | Ave Maria University | 22300 | 44800 | 0.502 | 1,250 | 1193 | 0.4481 | |
| 73 | Lewis University | 22700 | 57000 | 0.6019 | 4,326 | 1099 | 0.7128 | |
| 74 | Grove City College | 23100 | 37200 | 0.3791 | 2,341 | 1256 | 0.7232 | |
| 75 | Berry College | 23200 | 60800 | 0.6182 | 2,254 | 1224 | 0.64 | |
| 76 | Utica University | 23700 | 41100 | 0.423 | 2,333 | 1120 | 0.8679 | |
| 77 | Beloit College | 23800 | 75600 | 0.6855 | 1,004 | 1298 | 0.6304 | |
| 77 | Ohio University-Main Campus | 23800 | 24500 | 0.0285 | 19,888 | 1209 | 0.8517 | |
| 79 | University of Kentucky | 23900 | 36000 | 0.3361 | 25,535 | 1193 | 0.9294 | |
| 80 | Miami University-Oxford | 24400 | 27200 | 0.1028 | 16,816 | 1299 | 0.754 | |
| 81 | University of Alabama at Birmingham | 24700 | 28500 | 0.1335 | 12,382 | 1242 | 0.8842 | |
| 82 | Colorado State University Pueblo | 24900 | 28000 | 0.1098 | 5,086 | 1000 | 0.9821 | |
| 83 | West Texas A & M University | 25200 | 27100 | 0.07 | 6,930 | 1060 | 0.5863 | |
| 84 | Mary Baldwin University | 25400 | 46100 | 0.4487 | 1,217 | 1099 | 0.947 | |
| 85 | Hope College | 25700 | 60100 | 0.5722 | 3,395 | 1245 | 0.7924 | |
| 86 | Northwood University | 25900 | 54500 | 0.5252 | 1,989 | 1075 | 0.839 | |
| 86 | Westmont College | 25900 | 76400 | 0.6612 | 1,311 | 1324 | 0.7704 | |
| 88 | University of Evansville | 26100 | 64700 | 0.5965 | 1,742 | 1207 | 0.7813 | |
| 88 | Westminster University | 26100 | 59500 | 0.561 | 842 | 1233 | 0.6657 | |
| 90 | Iowa State University | 26200 | 42800 | 0.3864 | 25,628 | 1207 | 0.8866 | |
| 91 | Marquette University | 26400 | 65700 | 0.5978 | 8,045 | 1309 | 0.8134 | |
| 92 | Benedictine University | 26500 | 48900 | 0.4581 | 1,972 | 1150 | 0.9523 | |
| 92 | University of Arizona | 26500 | 35200 | 0.247 | 45,025 | 1212 | 0.8614 | |
| 94 | Northwest Nazarene University | 26600 | 68400 | 0.6111 | 1,043 | 1145 | 0.7159 | |
| 94 | Pennsylvania Western University | 26600 | 35600 | 0.2531 | 7,586 | 1070 | 0.9433 | |
| 96 | Cornell College | 26700 | 72200 | 0.6299 | 1,085 | 1243 | 0.8066 | |
| 96 | Lamar University | 26700 | 37700 | 0.2915 | 8,206 | 1045 | 0.857 | |
| 96 | Our Lady of the Lake University | 26700 | 48200 | 0.4462 | 1,147 | 990 | 0.7246 | |
| 99 | Kennesaw State University | 27000 | 27000 | 0 | 42,840 | 1120 | 0.6919 | |
| 100 | Capital University | 27200 | 68600 | 0.6036 | 1,609 | 1084 | 0.7022 | |
| 101 | Troy University | 27400 | 32600 | 0.1594 | 10,222 | 1090 | 0.9604 | |
| 101 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor | 27400 | 53300 | 0.4858 | 2,803 | 1105 | 0.9576 | |
| 103 | Aquinas College | 27600 | 53300 | 0.4823 | 1,019 | 1035 | 0.8988 | |
| 103 | University of North Texas | 27600 | 37400 | 0.2622 | 34,458 | 1114 | 0.7223 | |
| 105 | Missouri Valley College | 27800 | 38100 | 0.2703 | 1,558 | 985 | 0.5269 | |
| 106 | Ottawa University-Ottawa | 27900 | 54800 | 0.4907 | 936 | 980 | 0.8003 | |
| 106 | University of Louisville | 27900 | 42200 | 0.3387 | 17,086 | 1148 | 0.7941 | |
| 108 | California State University-Long Beach | 28000 | 38400 | 0.2712 | 35,843 | 1135 | 0.4628 | |
| 108 | Villanova University | 28000 | 88800 | 0.6845 | 7,006 | 1457 | 0.2698 | |
| 110 | John Brown University | 28300 | 48300 | 0.4153 | 1,882 | 1226 | 0.6764 | |
| 111 | George Fox University | 28700 | 67100 | 0.5727 | 3,401 | 1193 | 0.9351 | |
| 112 | University of South Carolina-Upstate | 28900 | 39700 | 0.2722 | 4,478 | 1065 | 0.8132 | |
| 113 | Wright State University-Main Campus | 29500 | 36500 | 0.1919 | 7,505 | 1059 | 0.9633 | |
| 114 | Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi | 29800 | 41000 | 0.2729 | 8,320 | 1074 | 0.8858 | |
| 115 | University of North Dakota | 30000 | 32500 | 0.0791 | 11,033 | 1150 | 0.769 | |
| 116 | Belmont University | 30300 | 67800 | 0.5529 | 7,167 | 1273 | 0.9528 | |
| 116 | South Carolina State University | 30300 | 41600 | 0.2716 | 2,950 | 865 | 0.8262 | |
| 118 | Gannon University | 30400 | 45300 | 0.329 | 2,768 | 1174 | 0.7416 | |
| 119 | The University of Texas at San Antonio | 30500 | 41800 | 0.2705 | 31,127 | 1115 | 0.8679 | |
| 120 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | 30600 | 31100 | 0.0161 | 19,701 | 1214 | 0.8749 | |
| 121 | University of Redlands | 30700 | 81400 | 0.6227 | 2,045 | 1226 | 0.8271 | |
| 122 | St Bonaventure University | 30800 | 61000 | 0.4948 | 2,048 | 1194 | 0.8165 | |
| 123 | Azusa Pacific University | 30900 | 66000 | 0.532 | 2,996 | 1138 | 0.7959 | |
| 123 | Carroll University | 30900 | 61400 | 0.4966 | 2,581 | 1174 | 0.6684 | |
| 123 | The College of Wooster | 30900 | 82400 | 0.6257 | 1,738 | 1344 | 0.5953 | |
| 123 | Wofford College | 30900 | 73200 | 0.5776 | 1,817 | 1305 | 0.5194 | |
| 127 | University of West Georgia | 31300 | 36000 | 0.1306 | 9,157 | 1040 | 0.5161 | |
| 128 | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | 31500 | 36700 | 0.1417 | 5,789 | 1115 | 0.5774 | |
| 129 | Rider University | 31600 | 64300 | 0.5084 | 3,196 | 1214 | 0.794 | |
| 130 | Angelo State University | 31800 | 35400 | 0.101 | 9,779 | 1055 | 0.8301 | |
| 130 | Samford University | 31800 | 65200 | 0.5122 | 4,210 | 1199 | 0.8236 | |
| 130 | University of North Florida | 31800 | 37900 | 0.161 | 13,735 | 1150 | 0.5324 | |
| 133 | Hampton University | 32300 | 47000 | 0.3128 | 3,728 | 956 | 0.6225 | |
| 134 | The University of Tennessee-Knoxville | 32500 | 34700 | 0.0633 | 30,564 | 1298 | 0.416 | |
| 134 | Widener University | 32500 | 75300 | 0.5682 | 2,811 | 1155 | 0.8402 | |
| 136 | University of Dayton | 32800 | 64100 | 0.4883 | 7,737 | 1284 | 0.6566 | |
| 137 | Ohio Wesleyan University | 33000 | 73700 | 0.552 | 1,525 | 1241 | 0.556 | |
| 138 | Virginia State University | 33400 | 42200 | 0.2087 | 4,829 | 935 | 0.891 | |
| 139 | Appalachian State University | 33500 | 35800 | 0.0642 | 19,560 | 1159 | 0.9014 | |
| 140 | Elizabethtown College | 33700 | 54600 | 0.383 | 1,903 | 1214 | 0.7787 | |
| 140 | Stephen F Austin State University | 33700 | 42800 | 0.2126 | 9,129 | 1060 | 0.7445 | |
| 142 | Baylor University | 34600 | 70800 | 0.511 | 14,915 | 1277 | 0.5128 | |
| 143 | DePaul University | 34900 | 56200 | 0.3791 | 14,188 | 1218 | 0.7589 | |
| 143 | The University of Texas at El Paso | 34900 | 48400 | 0.2791 | 20,609 | 990 | 0.999 | |
| 145 | Cedarville University | 35100 | 55100 | 0.364 | 4,916 | 1247 | 0.6488 | |
| 146 | Goldey-Beacom College | 35200 | 38100 | 0.0768 | 702 | 0 | 0.7653 | |
| 147 | Boise State University | 35800 | 48800 | 0.2664 | 24,030 | 1025 | 0.8721 | |
| 148 | Salisbury University | 36100 | 40900 | 0.1175 | 6,288 | 1250 | 0.8747 | |
| 148 | University of Maine | 36100 | 45100 | 0.1996 | 591 | 1199 | 0.9684 | |
| 150 | State University of New York at Cortland | 36300 | 39900 | 0.0903 | 5,911 | 1175 | 0.5979 | |
| 151 | Mississippi State University | 36400 | 50500 | 0.2789 | 18,567 | 1214 | 0.7764 | |
| 151 | Tennessee Technological University | 36400 | 38500 | 0.0539 | 8,838 | 1159 | 0.8316 | |
| 153 | University of Central Florida | 36700 | 39600 | 0.0733 | 59,649 | 1280 | 0.4471 | |
| 154 | Clark Atlanta University | 36800 | 49800 | 0.2613 | 3,495 | 1000 | 0.6463 | |
| 155 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 36900 | 38900 | 0.0533 | 23,351 | 1239 | 0.766 | |
| 156 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | 37700 | 51000 | 0.2603 | 824 | 1060 | 0.7703 | |
| 157 | Seattle University | 37800 | 69800 | 0.4582 | 4,103 | 1256 | 0.7703 | |
| 158 | University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 38400 | 38400 | 0 | 14,416 | 1205 | 0.8851 | |
| 158 | Xavier University | 38400 | 67500 | 0.4312 | 4,239 | 1218 | 0.8669 | |
| 160 | Saint Vincent College | 38600 | 60700 | 0.3636 | 1,284 | 0 | 0.6173 | |
| 160 | Suffolk University | 38600 | 73600 | 0.4758 | 4,324 | 1209 | 0.822 | |
| 162 | University of Alabama in Huntsville | 39000 | 39000 | 0 | 6,800 | 1245 | 0.6857 | |
| 163 | Nichols College | 39600 | 59600 | 0.3359 | 1,152 | 1070 | 0.8814 | |
| 164 | Seton Hall University | 39700 | 67400 | 0.4108 | 6,146 | 1313 | 0.7326 | |
| 165 | Alvernia University | 40000 | 68700 | 0.4179 | 2,050 | 1060 | 0.6232 | |
| 165 | Loyola University Chicago | 40000 | 67600 | 0.4085 | 12,538 | 1303 | 0.816 | |
| 167 | SUNY Oneonta | 40500 | 45300 | 0.1059 | 4,681 | 1190 | 0.6959 | |
| 168 | Marymount Manhattan College | 40700 | 68600 | 0.4064 | 1,601 | 1224 | 0.8261 | |
| 169 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College | 41300 | 41300 | 0 | 3,244 | 1224 | 0.9683 | |
| 170 | Hofstra University | 41700 | 74600 | 0.4409 | 6,581 | 1323 | 0.6808 | |
| 171 | Arkansas State University | 41900 | 45900 | 0.086 | 9,985 | 1075 | 0.7959 | |
| 172 | Loyola University Maryland | 42000 | 78800 | 0.4671 | 3,881 | 1309 | 0.7549 | |
| 173 | Old Dominion University | 42300 | 52400 | 0.1926 | 17,746 | 1205 | 0.9036 | |
| 174 | Susquehanna University | 42400 | 76800 | 0.4481 | 2,185 | 1204 | 0.7871 | |
| 175 | Mercyhurst University | 42500 | 66400 | 0.3601 | 2,274 | 1189 | 0.8102 | |
| 175 | Ohio State University-Main Campus | 42500 | 52100 | 0.1843 | 46,815 | 1339 | 0.6057 | |
| 177 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College | 43400 | 43400 | 0 | 16,086 | 1293 | 0.5117 | |
| 178 | Merrimack College | 43600 | 78800 | 0.4464 | 4,199 | 1115 | 0.7361 | |
| 179 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College | 43800 | 50300 | 0.1293 | 34,242 | 1260 | 0.7333 | |
| 180 | Middle Tennessee State University | 45800 | 45800 | 0 | 17,668 | 1124 | 0.68 | |
| 181 | Saint Louis University | 46000 | 74500 | 0.3826 | 10,436 | 1260 | 0.7504 | |
| 182 | James Madison University | 46400 | 46400 | 0 | 21,112 | 1260 | 0.7151 | |
| 183 | Presbyterian College | 47300 | 62700 | 0.2455 | 853 | 1105 | 0.6837 | |
| 184 | Molloy University | 48200 | 62300 | 0.2265 | 3,240 | 1199 | 0.8174 | |
| 185 | Chapman University | 51400 | 87300 | 0.4113 | 7,713 | 1357 | 0.6543 | |
| 186 | Oklahoma City University | 52000 | 52000 | 0 | 1,447 | 1190 | 0.7039 | |
| 187 | University of California-Irvine | 55000 | 64800 | 0.1512 | 30,204 | 1333 | 0.2878 | |
| 188 | University of California-Santa Cruz | 56200 | 66500 | 0.1549 | 17,940 | 1281 | 0.6557 | |
| 189 | Santa Clara University | 56800 | 84800 | 0.3303 | 6,577 | 1427 | 0.48 |
School data is from 2022–2023 (top 500 results shown) for schools with at least 100 undergraduate students.