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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Economics (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

23 Ranked Colleges
857 Degrees Awarded
$15,200 Avg Net Price*
Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

General Economics is the 22nd most popular major in the country with 31,150 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across Illinois, there were 901 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 857 general economics graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in general economics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great general economics programs and cost less that 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 economics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college 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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 23 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for General Economics (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $3,995 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on General Economics at Northwestern

#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 436 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $8,464 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about General Economics at UIUC

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Springfield. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Springfield, Illinois, this small public school awarded 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #9 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $8,323 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UIS.

Full UIS General Economics Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Chicago. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 99 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Illinois at Chicago is $11,185 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

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 more about General Economics at UIC

#15 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is $9,938 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Economics at SIUE

#6

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Eastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #17 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $11,316 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full EIU General Economics Report

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dekalb, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 24 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s general economics students in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northern Illinois University is $15,861 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full NIU General Economics Report

#8

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

WIU also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $14,526 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Economics at Western Illinois University

#9

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 46 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $14,999 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Illinois State University.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State General Economics Report

#10

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois
#16 in overall quality

Illinois College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois College is a small school located in Jacksonville, Illinois that handed out 14 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois College also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois College is $12,454 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Illinois College General Economics Report

#20 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #20. The yearly cost to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale is $14,306 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about General Economics at SIUC

#12

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Dominican University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Dominican University is located in River Forest, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

Dominican U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $17,586 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Dominican U.

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 Dominican U General Economics Report

#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend Northeastern Illinois University is $15,513 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University General Economics Report

#14

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Illinois Wesleyan University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bloomington, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 14 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Wesleyan did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Wesleyan University is $19,857 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about General Economics at Illinois Wesleyan

#15

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It awarded 33 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $15,390 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Olivet Nazarene University.

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%.

Read full report on General Economics at Olivet Nazarene

#16

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Elmhurst University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Elmhurst University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 11 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Elmhurst is $17,837 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics 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 University General Economics Report

#17

Bradley University

Peoria, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Bradley University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Bradley University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Peoria, Illinois. It awarded 5 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bradley, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,232 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Bradley University.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 General Economics at Bradley University

#18

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Augustana College landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rock Island, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k list, Augustana has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $16,249 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Augustana.

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 General Economics at Augustana College

#19

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

McKendree University ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. McKendree is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 17 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

McKendree not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for McKendree University is $16,659 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Full McKendree General Economics Report

#20

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

North Central College landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. North Central is a small school located in Naperville, Illinois that handed out 31 bachelors’s general economics degrees in 2019-2020.

North Central also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $20,128 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend North Central.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 more about General Economics at North Central

#21

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #21, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s 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 bachelors’s general economics degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also took the #22 spot in our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Roosevelt University is $20,330 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree General Economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on General Economics at Roosevelt University

#22

Rockford University

Rockford, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Rockford University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Rockford University is located in Rockford, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s general economics degrees to qualified students.

Rockford also made our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $20,380 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Rockford.

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 Economics at Rockford University

#23

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#18 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value General Economics Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #23. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s general economics degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

DePaul not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #18 on our “Best General Economics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $25,842 for illinois bachelor’s degree general economics students whose families make $30-$48k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full DePaul University General Economics Report

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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 pixabay.

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