The Best Value Illinois Colleges

Best Value Colleges in Illinois for 2024

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 2024 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 2024 as the overall best value college in Illinois is Northwestern University with a 10 out of 10 academic rating for a comparatively affordable $22,095 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

42 results

Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#19 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,885enrollment
  • $29,961net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 1250-1430SAT range
  • 28-33ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Elmhurst College
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E
Elmhurst, IL

Elmhurst College

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#20 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,731enrollment
  • $24,108net price
  • 76%acceptance rate
  • 980-1240SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.59Avg GPA

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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
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S
Edwardsville, IL

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

#21 Best Value in Illinois

  • 12,519enrollment
  • $13,586net price
  • 98%acceptance rate
  • 930-1160SAT range
  • 19-26ACT range
  • 3.54Avg GPA

Applications Due May 1

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Dominican University
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D
River Forest, IL

Dominican University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#22 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,196enrollment
  • $18,162net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 890-1140SAT range
  • 16-22ACT range
  • 3.74Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 31

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North Park University
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N
Chicago, IL

North Park University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

#23 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,660enrollment
  • $19,029net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 890-1162SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.14Avg GPA

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Roosevelt University
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R
Chicago, IL

Roosevelt University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#24 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,725enrollment
  • $22,117net price
  • 88%acceptance rate
  • 840-1080SAT range
  • 16-26ACT range
  • 3.13Avg 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

#25 Best Value in Illinois

  • 11,107enrollment
  • $16,990net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • 900-1140SAT range
  • 19-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

#26 Best Value in Illinois

  • 20,917enrollment
  • $32,151net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 1070-1300SAT range
  • 24-30ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

#27 Best Value in Illinois

  • 20,683enrollment
  • $20,551net price
  • 86%acceptance rate
  • 1000-1210SAT range
  • 21-27ACT 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

#28 Best Value in Illinois

  • 16,899enrollment
  • $37,511net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1370SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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Benedictine University
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B
Lisle, IL

Benedictine University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#29 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,123enrollment
  • $25,658net price
  • 93%acceptance rate
  • 1050-1280SAT range
  • 19-28ACT range
  • 3.26Avg 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

#30 Best Value in Illinois

  • 3,532enrollment
  • $53,923net price
  • 79%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

#31 Best Value in Illinois

  • 5,918enrollment
  • $19,350net price
  • 82%acceptance rate
  • 980-1198SAT range
  • 19-25ACT 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

#32 Best Value in Illinois

  • 2,317enrollment
  • $6,446net price
  • 49%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

#33 Best Value in Illinois

  • 5,354enrollment
  • $18,832net 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

#34 Best Value in Illinois

  • 8,857enrollment
  • $13,380net price
  • 68%acceptance rate
  • 900-1120SAT 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

#35 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,088enrollment
  • $20,718net price
  • 94%acceptance rate
  • 809-1209SAT range
  • 15-28ACT range
  • 3.23Avg GPA

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Illinois College
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I
Jacksonville, IL

Illinois College

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

#36 Best Value in Illinois

  • 1,029enrollment
  • $16,296net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 960-1126SAT range
  • 21-26ACT range
  • 3.63Avg GPA

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