2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Illinois
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong public health education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public health schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Health Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public health, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for public health in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,987 in student loans. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $74,653 early in their careers. Set against $22,987 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #2 place for public health. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Public Health graduates carry a median of $24,925 in student loans. Public Health graduates of University Of Illinois At Springfield earn a median of $54,701 early in their careers. Set against $24,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Governors State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Public Health graduates carry a median of $23,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $36,537. That is a strong return on a $23,000 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes National Louis University one of the best values for public health. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $29,242. Early-career public health graduates make about $53,733. Set against $29,242 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $43,603. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned the #6 position for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $20,678 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $48,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $23,730 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $46,566. That is a strong return on a $23,730 median debt. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #8 position for value in public health this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $25,209. Early-career public health graduates make about $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value public health schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the public health program here. Early-career public health graduates make about $49,254. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #11 position for value in public health this year. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,092. Students borrow a median of $29,223 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $35,023. That is a strong return on a $29,223 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology earned the #12 position for value in public health this year. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Early-career public health graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Illinois State University earned the #13 position for value in public health 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, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,250 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $59,207. Set against $22,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University landed the #14 spot for public health value this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $64,930. Set against $25,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Augustana College Illinois came in at #15 for value in public health this year. Set in the city of Rock Island, Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,598. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $27,000. Early-career public health graduates make about $39,096. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College earned the #16 position for value in public health this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Elmhurst College generally make around $51,232. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University came in at #17 for value in public health this year. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $14,684. Public Health graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $53,408 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,684 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University placed #18 among the best values for public health. 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. Public Health graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $56,814 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois placed #19 among the best values for public health. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois is a very large private for-profit school located in the suburb of Addison. Students from in state pay about $21,536 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $39,146 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois generally make around $68,487. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Chamberlain College Of Nursing Illinois admits about 83% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 for value in public health this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $66,981. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 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.
