2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in Illinois
[Marketing](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/marketing/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong marketing education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 29 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for marketing students.
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2027 Best Value Marketing Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marketing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marketing Schools
For return on investment in marketing, no school beat Oakton Community College this year. Set in the city of Des Plaines, Oakton Community College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,985 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,462 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,750 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Oakton Community College earn a median of $48,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of Dupage came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Students from in state pay about $4,560 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,750. Marketing graduates carry a median of $12,492 in student loans. Marketing graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Set against $12,492 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Students looking for strong value in marketing will find it at Mchenry County College, which ranked #3. Mchenry County College is a large public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Students from in state pay about $4,162 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,399. Students borrow a median of $7,440 to complete the marketing program here. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Mchenry County College generally make around $24,177. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in marketing will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #4. 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, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $42,782 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Saint Xavier University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Saint Xavier University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $38,945 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $26,047. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Saint Xavier University generally make around $43,892. That is a strong return on a $26,047 median debt. Saint Xavier University admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Marketing graduates carry a median of $20,000 in student loans. Marketing graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $69,994 early in their careers. Set against $20,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Dominican University placed #7 among the best values for marketing. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $26,236. Marketing graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. Dominican University admits about 90% of applicants.
Northern Illinois University earned the #8 position for value in marketing this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $23,875. Early-career marketing graduates make about $51,137. Set against $23,875 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University earned the #9 position for value in marketing this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,250 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $46,844 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Western Illinois University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Located in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Marketing graduates carry a median of $29,592 in student loans. Marketing graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $39,977 early in their careers. Set against $29,592 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot for marketing value this year. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $25,000. Early-career marketing graduates make about $40,244. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #12 for value in marketing this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $15,000. Early-career marketing graduates make about $43,320. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University landed the #13 spot for marketing value this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Students borrow a median of $20,000 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $43,196. That is a strong return on a $20,000 median debt. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
North Park University came in at #14 for value in marketing this year. North Park 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 $36,710. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $27,360. Marketing graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Park University admits about 68% of applicants.
Illinois State University landed the #15 spot for marketing value 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. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $20,500. Marketing graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $51,687 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Aurora University landed the #16 spot for marketing value this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,170. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $22,900. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Aurora University generally make around $39,482. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Roosevelt University landed the #17 spot for marketing value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,869 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $42,720. That is a strong return on a $23,869 median debt. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
North Central College landed the #18 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,726. Marketing graduates carry a median of $22,312 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $45,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University landed the #19 spot for marketing value this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $40,829. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Benedictine University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Typical student debt for marketing graduates is $20,201. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $44,417. That is a strong return on a $20,201 median debt. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Midwestern Career College earned the #21 position for value in marketing this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Midwestern Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Marketing graduates carry a median of $14,360 in student loans. Early-career marketing graduates make about $38,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bradley University came in at #22 for value in marketing this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. Students from in state pay about $42,160 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,017 to complete the marketing program here. Marketing graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $48,663 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value marketing schools. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. In-state tuition and fees average $51,598. Marketing graduates carry a median of $26,764 in student loans. Marketing graduates of Augustana College Illinois earn a median of $39,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Elmhurst College came in at #24 for value in marketing this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Marketing graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marketing degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $40,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Mckendree University came in at #25 for value in marketing this year. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,949 to complete the marketing program here. Early-career marketing graduates make about $34,872. Set against $25,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Marketing Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in marketing:
View All Marketing Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 29 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.
