2027 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Illinois
[Finance & Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong finance & financial management education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for finance & financial management students.
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2027 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the finance & financial management degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in finance & financial management in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $55,591 early in their careers. Set against $17,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Harper College earned it the #2 place for finance & financial management. Harper College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Palatine. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,894, with out-of-state students paying around $11,874. Students borrow a median of $10,963 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Harper College generally make around $44,523. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Xavier University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance & financial management, landing the #3 spot this year. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,945. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,326. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Saint Xavier University earn a median of $46,452 early in their careers. Set against $23,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Dominican University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Dominican University generally make around $45,546. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in finance & financial management will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #5. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $75,381. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $19,500. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $54,802 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #7 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $22,468. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $51,370. Set against $22,468 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #8 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Western Illinois University landed the #9 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $14,572 in tuition and fees. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $47,926 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $20,447 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $48,708. Set against $20,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #11 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $12,502. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of $48,807 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
Lewis University placed #12 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $25,688. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $52,742 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,688 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois State University earned the #13 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $54,958. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Aurora University landed the #14 spot for finance & financial management value 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 & financial management graduates is $24,499. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,437 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Roosevelt University placed #15 among the best values for finance & financial management. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $50,158. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
North Central College came in at #16 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $51,420. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Benedictine University came in at #17 for value in finance & financial management this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $51,444. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Bradley University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $20,905 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $54,261. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #19 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $26,764. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Set against $26,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $18,250. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $57,171 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,250 median debt. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Illinois Wesleyan University placed #21 among the best values for finance & financial management. 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. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $62,619. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College came in at #22 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $56,402. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $61,264 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University earned the #23 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $68,322 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $78,551. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University landed the #24 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $23,000. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $66,863 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $24,988. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $66,919. Set against $24,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
