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2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

16 Ranked Colleges
423 Degrees Awarded
$16,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 29,936 people earned their degree in general education, making the major the 28th most popular in the United States.

Across Illinois, there were 423 general education graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 16 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in general education. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality general education programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the general education program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for General Education (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 197 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, UIUC has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $8,464 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The low student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on General Education at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#2

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Saint Xavier University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. SXU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SXU, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Xavier University is $11,962 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at Saint Xavier University

#3

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Western Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

WIU also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Western Illinois University is $14,526 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Western Illinois University

#4

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lake Forest College landed the #4 spot on the list. Lake Forest College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 11 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also made our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $19,152 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lake Forest.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lake Forest College General Education Report

#5

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s general education degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, NIU has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $15,861 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Education at NIU

#6

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Jacksonville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Illinois College has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,454 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois College.

Read more about General Education at Illinois College

#7

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Elmhurst, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $17,837 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst General Education Report

#8

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois

Concordia University, Chicago landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Concordia University, Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 12 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Concordia University, Chicago has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Concordia University, Chicago is $15,406 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Concordia University, Chicago

#9

Greenville University

Greenville, Illinois

With a ranking of #9, Greenville University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Greenville University is located in Greenville, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

Greenville not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Greenville University is $19,258 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Greenville University General Education Report

#10

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. McKendree is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lebanon, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

McKendree did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree is $16,659 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at McKendree

#11

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Illinois Wesleyan is a small school located in Bloomington, Illinois that handed out 2 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan also took the #3 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Wesleyan University is $19,857 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on General Education at Illinois Wesleyan

#12

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois

Quincy University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Quincy U is located in Quincy, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 20 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Quincy U, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Quincy U is $17,518 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Quincy U General Education Report

#13

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois

North Park University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 1 ’s general education degrees in 2019-2020.

North Park did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,270 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Park University.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on General Education at North Park University

#14

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois

Trinity Christian College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Palos Heights, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified ’s general education students in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Trinity Christian College is $19,918 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Education at Trinity Christian

#15

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois

With a ranking of #15, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s general education degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Roosevelt, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt is $20,330 for illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Education at Roosevelt University

#16

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois

Rockford University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Education Schools in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Rockford University is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 ’s general education degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois general education students whose families make $30-$48k list, Rockford has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best General Education Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Rockford is $20,380 for Illinois General Education students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Education at Rockford University

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to KOKUYO.

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