2027 Best Value Finance Schools in Illinois
[Finance](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/finance/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value finance schools.
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2027 Best Value Finance Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Finance Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value finance schools in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Finance graduates carry a median of $17,625 in student loans. Finance graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $55,591 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Saint Xavier University one of the best values for finance. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,945. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $23,326. Early-career finance graduates make about $46,452. Set against $23,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance will find it at Dominican University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $45,546. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Finance graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $75,381. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #5 place for finance. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Finance graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $54,802. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #6 position for value in finance this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $22,468 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $51,370 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,468 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Chicago landed the #7 spot for finance value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $15,854. Finance graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Western Illinois University earned the #8 position for value in finance this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,572. Finance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Finance graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $47,926 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #9 position for value in finance this year. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Students borrow a median of $20,447 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $48,708. That is a strong return on a $20,447 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #10 among the best values for finance. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, with out-of-state students paying around $22,726. Finance graduates carry a median of $12,502 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $48,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Lewis University placed #11 among the best values for finance. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Finance graduates carry a median of $25,688 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $52,742. Set against $25,688 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value finance schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Finance graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $54,958. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University came in at #13 for value in finance this year. Set in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $24,499. Finance graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,437 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,499 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University earned the #14 position for value in finance this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Finance graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
North Central College earned the #15 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,726. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the finance program here. Finance graduates of North Central College earn a median of $51,420 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University came in at #16 for value in finance this year. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,648 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $51,444. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Bradley University landed the #17 spot for finance value this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $20,905 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $54,261. Set against $20,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #18 spot for finance value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Finance graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. Finance graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,764 median debt. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College placed #19 among the best values for finance. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete the finance program here. Early-career finance graduates make about $57,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #20 for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Bloomington, Illinois Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,704. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $26,000. Early-career finance graduates make about $62,619. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Illinois Wesleyan University admits about 39% of applicants.
Lake Forest College came in at #21 for value in finance this year. Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lake Forest. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,402. Finance graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $61,264. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #22 spot for finance value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for finance graduates is $16,616. Finance graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University earned the #23 position for value in finance this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,000 to complete the finance program here. Soon after graduation, finance degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $66,863. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #24 position for value in finance this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Finance graduates carry a median of $24,988 in student loans. Early-career finance graduates make about $66,919. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
