2027 Best Value Management Science Schools in Illinois
[Management Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/management-science/) 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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for management science students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Management Science Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in management science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Management Science Schools
For return on investment in management science, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,750. Early-career management science graduates make about $68,838. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Governors State University earned it the #2 place for management science. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $24,990. Early-career management science graduates make about $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
A rank of #3 makes National Louis University one of the best values for management science. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $26,094. Management Science graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $59,084 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,094 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management science, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Management Science graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Management Science graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $190,915 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management science, landing the #5 spot 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, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Management Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $42,500. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #6 among the best values for management science. 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 $21,000 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $72,316. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University placed #7 among the best values for management science. 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. Management Science graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans. Management Science graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $51,128 early in their careers. Set against $21,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of St Francis came in at #8 for value in management science this year. Located in the suburb of Joliet, University Of St Francis is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,110 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $24,250. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from University Of St Francis generally make around $45,735. That is a strong return on a $24,250 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned the #9 position for value in management science this year. 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. Management Science graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $42,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #10 for value in management science this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Management Science graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Lewis University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Lewis University generally make around $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University came in at #12 for value in management science this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Management Science graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $47,553. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Roosevelt University came in at #13 for value in management science this year. Roosevelt 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 $21,315. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $48,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Quincy University landed the #14 spot for management science value this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,140. Students borrow a median of $26,074 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $46,414. Set against $26,074 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Quincy University admits about 51% of applicants.
Elmhurst College earned the #15 position for value in management science this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $88,979. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Mckendree University placed #16 among the best values for management science. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,740. Students borrow a median of $21,203 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $45,899. Set against $21,203 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Northwestern University ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best value management science schools. 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 management science graduates is $16,616. Early-career management science graduates make about $140,444. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University came in at #18 for value in management science this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Management Science graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Management Science graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $62,702 early in their careers. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago placed #19 among the best values for management science. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $58,568. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
More Management Science Rankings
View All Management Science Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
