2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Illinois
[Finance & Financial Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/finance-financial-management/) 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 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value finance & financial management schools.
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2026 Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in finance & financial management, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Finance & Financial Management Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for finance & financial management in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,625 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $55,591. That is a strong return on a $17,625 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in finance & financial management will find it at Millikin University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Decatur, Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $26,792. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $26,036 in student loans. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $58,852. Set against $26,036 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in finance & financial management, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. 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. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Augustana College Illinois one of the best values for finance & financial management. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Students borrow a median of $26,764 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $39,096. That is a strong return on a $26,764 median debt. Augustana College Illinois admits about 63% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. 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. That is a strong return on a $23,326 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for value in finance & financial management this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $19,500. Finance & Financial Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $75,381 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Western Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $47,926. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern Illinois University placed #8 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,502 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $48,807. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Eastern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $22,468. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $51,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #10 among the best values for finance & financial management. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $20,447. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $48,708 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago earned the #11 position for value in finance & financial management this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $15,854. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,200. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $25,688 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $52,742 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #13 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. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $54,958 early in their careers. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value finance & financial management schools. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,437 early in their careers. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Aurora University admits about 81% of applicants.
Elmhurst College landed the #15 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $18,250. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $57,171. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Roosevelt University placed #16 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. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
North Central College came in at #17 for value in finance & financial management this year. North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Naperville. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Finance & Financial Management 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. North Central College admits about 77% of applicants.
Benedictine University placed #18 among the best values for finance & financial management. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,648. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Early-career finance & financial management graduates make about $51,444. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #19 spot for finance & financial management value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $16,616. Finance & Financial Management 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. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University earned the #20 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Set in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $20,905. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,261 early in their careers. Set against $20,905 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Lake Forest College placed #21 among the best values for finance & financial management. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,402. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $61,264. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Depaul University came in at #22 for value in finance & financial management this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Finance & Financial Management graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $66,863. Set against $23,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #23 for value in finance & financial management 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. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the finance & financial management program here. Soon after graduation, finance & financial management degree recipients from Illinois Wesleyan University generally make around $62,619. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Illinois Wesleyan University admits about 39% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #24 position for value in finance & financial management this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for finance & financial management graduates is $24,988. Finance & Financial Management graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $66,919 early in their careers. Set against $24,988 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 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.
