The Best Value Illinois Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Illinois for 2025

Explore the colleges that provide the best value for your money in Illinois based on academic quality, outcomes, net price and financial aid. The rankings are calculated using ratings from the 2025 CollegeSimply Best Colleges ranking factored against the typical net price paid by students - to identify the colleges that offer the best deals. Leading the list for 2025 as the overall best value college in Illinois is Northwestern University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $23,341 average net price. The highest value public state college is University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Learn how the Best Value Colleges are calculated and ranked on our methodology page.
Illinois Public Private 4 year

41 results

Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,799enrollment
  • $31,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Dominican University
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D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#20 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,424enrollment
  • $16,969net price
  • 80%acceptance rate
  • 934-1140SAT range
  • 17-22ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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Olivet Nazarene University
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O
Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University

Private 4 Year

2 reviews

#21 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,275enrollment
  • $22,707net price
  • 67%acceptance rate
  • 960-1190SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Estimated Avg GPA

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

#22 Best Value in Illinois

  • 11,359enrollment
  • $16,131net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#23 Best Value in Illinois

  • 21,348enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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S
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Value in Illinois

  • 12,045enrollment
  • $15,182net price
  • 97%acceptance rate
  • 900-1160SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Benedictine University
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B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#25 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,989enrollment
  • $24,570net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg GPA

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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#26 Best Value in Illinois

  • 20,989enrollment
  • $20,871net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Loyola University Chicago
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L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

#27 Best Value in Illinois

  • 17,397enrollment
  • $37,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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McKendree University
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M
Lebanon, IL

McKendree University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#28 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,075enrollment
  • $25,200net price
  • 64%acceptance rate
  • 871-1277SAT range
  • 18-28ACT range
  • 3.38Avg GPA

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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S
Chicago, IL

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#29 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,401enrollment
  • $55,485net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 1048-1260SAT range
  • 22-25ACT range
  • 3.51Avg GPA

Applications Due Nov 15

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Aurora University
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A
Aurora, IL

Aurora University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#30 Best Value in Illinois

  • 5,935enrollment
  • $19,220net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 930-1133SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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Chicago State University
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C
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#31 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,324enrollment
  • $9,852net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 750-963SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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Concordia University Chicago
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C
River Forest, IL
 

Concordia University Chicago

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#32 Best Value in Illinois

  • 5,066enrollment
  • $17,767net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 990-1180SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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Eastern Illinois University
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E
Charleston, IL

Eastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#33 Best Value in Illinois

  • 8,804enrollment
  • $14,621net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1110SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.39Avg GPA

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Greenville University
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G
Greenville, IL

Greenville University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#34 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,053enrollment
  • $21,442net price
  • 95%acceptance rate
  • 811-1219SAT range
  • 14-24ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

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Judson University
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J
Elgin, IL

Judson University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#35 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,058enrollment
  • $21,331net price
  • 63%acceptance rate
  • 860-1080SAT range
  • 16-23ACT range
  • 3.16Avg GPA

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North Park University
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N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#36 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,624enrollment
  • $19,910net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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