Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Social Sciences

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

17 Ranked Colleges
829 Degrees Awarded
$23,700 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master's in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 205,726 social sciences students received their degree, making the major the 5th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, social sciences graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $34,801 and had an average of $23,466 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 5,941 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,078 and $23,135 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 829 social sciences graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 17 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in social sciences. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great social sciences programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the social sciences program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k.

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’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. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 64 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northwestern Social Sciences Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. UChicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 383 masters’s social sciences 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 Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UChicago Social Sciences Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 101 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UIUC Social Sciences Report

#10 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k. University of Illinois at Springfield is a small school located in Springfield, Illinois that handed out 22 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Social Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #5 spot on the list. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

SIUE did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SIUE are $9,300.

Read full report on Social Sciences at SIUE

#5 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Chicago ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIC is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 29 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

UIC also took the #5 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Chicago are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Social Sciences Report

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Charleston, Illinois that handed out 30 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 16 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #12. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 12 students in 2019-2020.

SIUC also took the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#10

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #10, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 2 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Social Sciences Report

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Western Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. WIU is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, WIU has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WIU Social Sciences Report

#12

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Illinois State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 35 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State are $11,069, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Illinois State University

#14 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 7 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Sciences Report

#14

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small public school awarded 2 degrees to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

CSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at CSU

#15

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Roosevelt University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’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 masters’s social sciences degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Roosevelt, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt are $21,605.

Full Roosevelt Social Sciences Report

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

DePaul University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. DePaul is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 63 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students whose families make $30-$48k list, DePaul has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DePaul University are $19,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Social Sciences at DePaul University

#17

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $30-$48k list. Loyola University Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Loyola University Chicago Social Sciences 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

Featured Social Science Schools

Find Schools Near You