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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

35 Ranked Colleges
5,941 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 205,726 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, social sciences is the 5th most popular major in the United States. 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.

This year’s “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 35 colleges that offered a degree 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 picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Social Sciences (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 666 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #2 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $6,452 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northwestern University.

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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Northwestern Social Sciences Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 1,133 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $7,934 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read more about Social Sciences at University of Chicago

Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #3 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 1,012 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UIUC is $13,351 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Sciences 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 #4 for the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 48 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $11,857 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Social Sciences Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 344 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Chicago is $13,683 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

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 Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago

#6

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 122 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

Wheaton College Illinois also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #4. It costs about $19,691 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 90%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Social Sciences Report

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, this fairly large public school awarded 136 degrees to qualified ’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUE, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUE is $13,705 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full SIUE Social Sciences Report

#8

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois

Saint Xavier University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 24 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, SXU has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Saint Xavier University is $14,907 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Saint Xavier University

#9

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois

Northern Illinois University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Northern Illinois University is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 226 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Northern Illinois University is $18,346 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Northern Illinois University Social Sciences Report

#10

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #10. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 103 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU also made our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $13,560 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend EIU.

Read more about Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University

Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Carbondale, Illinois, and it awarded 170 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k list, SIUC has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,985 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SIUC.

Full Southern Illinois University Carbondale Social Sciences Report

#12

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Illinois State is a large school located in Normal, Illinois that handed out 292 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #6 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $19,080 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Social Sciences Report

#13

Augustana College

Rock Island, Illinois

With a ranking of #13, Augustana College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Augustana College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rock Island, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 71 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Augustana, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $21,453 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Augustana College.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Augustana Social Sciences Report

#14

Lake Forest College

Lake Forest, Illinois

Lake Forest College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This small school is located in Lake Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 71 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Lake Forest also took the #7 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Lake Forest is $24,683 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Lake Forest

#14

Knox College

Galesburg, Illinois

Knox College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Knox College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 48 ’s social sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Knox, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Knox College is $19,653 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

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. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Social Sciences at Knox College

#16

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois

University of St Francis came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Saint Francis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #23 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $14,220 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of St Francis.

The low student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Full University of St Francis Social Sciences Report

#17

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois

With a ranking of #17, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 84 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend WIU is $15,912 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Western Illinois University

#18

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois

Elmhurst University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Elmhurst is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elmhurst, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also took the #14 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Elmhurst University is $19,703 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Elmhurst Social Sciences Report

#19

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois

National Louis University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. NLU is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 29 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for NLU is $16,888 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full NLU Social Sciences Report

#20

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

With a ranking of #20, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also took the #25 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $17,841 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 full report on Social Sciences at Olivet Nazarene University

#21

Dominican University

River Forest, Illinois

Dominican University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Dominican U is a small private not-for-profit school situated in River Forest, Illinois. It awarded 83 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dominican U, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,582 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Dominican University.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Dominican U Social Sciences Report

#22

Illinois College

Jacksonville, Illinois

Illinois College landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Jacksonville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Illinois College is $14,942 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Illinois College Social Sciences Report

Northeastern Illinois University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 79 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Northeastern Illinois University is $18,180 for illinois social sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Social Sciences Report

#24

Millikin University

Decatur, Illinois

Millikin University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Decatur, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Millikin is $20,390 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

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.

Read more about Social Sciences at Millikin University

#25

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois

North Central College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Naperville, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s social sciences degrees to 79 students in 2019-2020.

North Central not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for North Central College is $23,353 for Illinois Social Sciences students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central College 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.

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