2026 Best Value Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools in Illinois

[Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong management sciences & quantitative methods education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value management sciences & quantitative methods schools.
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2026 Best Value Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in management sciences & quantitative methods, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Schools
Western Illinois University earned the #1 spot for value among management sciences & quantitative methods schools in Illinois. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $27,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $47,926. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
Governors State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management sciences & quantitative methods, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $24,990. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #3 place for management sciences & quantitative methods. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $17,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $68,838. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management sciences & quantitative methods, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $21,600 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Early-career management sciences & quantitative methods graduates make about $51,128. That is a strong return on a $21,600 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management sciences & quantitative methods, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $72,316. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $23,917. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $54,302 early in their careers. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #7 position for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career management sciences & quantitative methods graduates make about $42,500. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
National Louis University earned the #8 position for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $26,094 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $59,084. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Chicago landed the #9 spot for management sciences & quantitative methods value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods 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. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #10 for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. 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. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $42,711. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Lewis University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value management sciences & quantitative methods schools. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $24,838. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Lewis University earn a median of $55,718 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Illinois College earned the #12 position for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,676. Students borrow a median of $26,922 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Illinois College generally make around $41,184. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois College admits about 78% of applicants.
Quincy University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value management sciences & quantitative methods schools. Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Quincy. Students from in state pay about $37,140 in tuition and fees. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $26,074 in student loans. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Quincy University earn a median of $46,414 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Illinois State University came in at #14 for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $47,553 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology came in at #15 for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College came in at #16 for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,955. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $22,400. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $88,979 early in their careers. Set against $22,400 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Roosevelt University came in at #17 for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Early-career management sciences & quantitative methods graduates make about $48,715. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Bradley University placed #18 among the best values for management sciences & quantitative methods. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for management sciences & quantitative methods graduates is $26,380. Soon after graduation, management sciences & quantitative methods degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Set against $26,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northwestern University earned the #19 position for value in management sciences & quantitative methods this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $140,444 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University placed #20 among the best values for management sciences & quantitative methods. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods 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. Depaul University admits about 76% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #21 spot for management sciences & quantitative methods value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the management sciences & quantitative methods program here. Early-career management sciences & quantitative methods graduates make about $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Management Sciences & Quantitative Methods Rankings
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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 · 31 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.