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2022 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

11 Ranked Colleges
262 Degrees Awarded
$16,900 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

Environmental Studies is the 85th most popular major in the country with 9,869 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 262 environmental studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 11 colleges that offered a degree in environmental studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent environmental studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the environmental studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Environmental Studies (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 38 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $2,712 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UChicago.

The low student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at UChicago

#2

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Illinois University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Dekalb, Illinois, and it awarded 34 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,281 for illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Northern Illinois University.

Full Northern Illinois University Environmental Studies Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school handed out 12 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #9 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Springfield is $9,771 for illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Environmental Studies at University of Illinois at Springfield

#4

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Augustana College landed the #4 spot on the list. Augustana is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Augustana did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $20,355 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Augustana.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Augustana College

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #5 spot on the list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $13,658 for illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full SIUC Environmental Studies Report

#6

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Knox is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Galesburg, Illinois. It awarded 13 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Knox also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Knox College is $16,828 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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 more about Environmental Studies at Knox College

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 16 diplomas to qualified ’s ecosystem studies students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k list, Northeastern Illinois University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $14,816 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Environmental Studies Report

#8

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. Lake Forest, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s ecosystem studies degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also made our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Lake Forest is $18,192 for illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 2.5% 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%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Lake Forest College

#9

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Illinois Wesleyan University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Wesleyan is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bloomington, Illinois. It awarded 8 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Wesleyan, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Wesleyan University is $18,570 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Illinois Wesleyan Environmental Studies Report

#10

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

Loyola University Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 16 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago also took the #4 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola University Chicago is $29,440 for Illinois Ecosystem Studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Environmental Studies at Loyola University Chicago

#11

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois

DePaul University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Ecosystem Studies Schools in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 18 ’s ecosystem studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at DePaul, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Environmental Studies Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend DePaul is $26,173 for illinois ecosystem studies students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University Environmental Studies Report

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 Lynn Betts.

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