2026 Best Value International Business Schools in Illinois
[International Business](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/international-business/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for international business students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value International Business Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in international business, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value International Business Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 list of the best value international business schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the international business program here. Soon after graduation, international business degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Augustana College Illinois earned it the #2 place for international business. Located in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Typical student debt for international business graduates is $25,500. International Business graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $37,350 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in international business, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,059 to complete the international business program here. International Business graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $52,491 early in their careers. Set against $19,059 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #4 makes Loyola University Chicago one of the best values for international business. 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 international business graduates is $25,000. Early-career international business graduates make about $55,496. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
More International Business Rankings
View All International Business Rankings >
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
