2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in Illinois

[Sustainability Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/sustainability-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong sustainability studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sustainability studies students.
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2027 Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in sustainability studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Sustainability Studies Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago tops our 2027 list of the best value sustainability studies schools in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $20,115. Sustainability Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $42,677 early in their careers. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for sustainability studies. 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, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Early-career sustainability studies graduates make about $52,963. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Illinois Institute Of Technology earned it the #3 place for sustainability studies. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $26,774. Soon after graduation, sustainability studies degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Northwestern University one of the best values for sustainability studies. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for sustainability studies graduates is $16,616. Sustainability Studies graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Depaul University earned it the #5 place for sustainability studies. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Sustainability Studies graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Sustainability Studies graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $57,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.