2027 Best Value Econometrics & Quantitative Economics Schools in Illinois

[Econometrics & Quantitative Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/econometrics-and-quantitative-economics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong econometrics & quantitative economics education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for econometrics & quantitative economics students.
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2027 Best Value Econometrics & Quantitative Economics Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in econometrics & quantitative economics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Econometrics & Quantitative Economics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Chicago the best value for a degree in econometrics & quantitative economics in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,009. Students borrow a median of $19,002 to complete the econometrics & quantitative economics program here. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $37,767. Set against $19,002 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for econometrics & quantitative economics. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $21,228. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $58,921. Set against $21,228 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value econometrics & quantitative economics schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $13,197 to complete the econometrics & quantitative economics program here. Early-career econometrics & quantitative economics graduates make about $92,075. That is a strong return on a $13,197 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southern Illinois University Carbondale earned it the #4 place for econometrics & quantitative economics. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $25,049. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $37,798. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in econometrics & quantitative economics will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $25,879. Early-career econometrics & quantitative economics graduates make about $45,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #6 position for value in econometrics & quantitative economics this year. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Econometrics & Quantitative Economics graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Econometrics & Quantitative Economics graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $44,015 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Knox College landed the #7 spot for econometrics & quantitative economics value this year. Knox College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Galesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,903. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the econometrics & quantitative economics program here. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $23,222. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Knox College admits about 71% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #8 position for value in econometrics & quantitative economics this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $21,000. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $62,889. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lake Forest College came in at #9 for value in econometrics & quantitative economics this year. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,402. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the econometrics & quantitative economics program here. Soon after graduation, econometrics & quantitative economics degree recipients from Lake Forest College generally make around $53,529. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lake Forest College admits about 57% of applicants.
Northwestern University placed #10 among the best values for econometrics & quantitative economics. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $16,227. Early-career econometrics & quantitative economics graduates make about $84,932. Set against $16,227 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University earned the #11 position for value in econometrics & quantitative economics this year. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for econometrics & quantitative economics graduates is $22,433. Early-career econometrics & quantitative economics graduates make about $53,417. 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 ranking is produced 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.