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2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

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 Getting Aid

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 for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Social Sciences is one of the most popular majors in the nation, ranking 5th of all the majors we analyze. In 2019-2020, 205,726 degrees were awarded to students with this major. 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 Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 17 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.

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 social sciences program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Social Sciences Schools

The social sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid”.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid.

Top 17 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Social Sciences in Illinois (With Aid)

#3 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 101 diplomas to qualified masters’s social sciences students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, UIUC has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social Sciences Report

#10 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UIS also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at UIS

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s social sciences degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

UIC also made our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Social Sciences Report

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 10 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at SIUE

#5

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern Illinois University landed the #5 spot on the list. This medium-sized school is located in Charleston, Illinois, and it awarded 30 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at EIU, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Eastern Illinois University are $20,761, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University

#6

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Chicago State University is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

CSU also took the #0 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full CSU Social Sciences Report

#7

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern 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 Getting Aid ranking. 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 some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Social Sciences Report

#8

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 16 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

#8 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, SIUC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SIUC are $32,928, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full SIUC Social Sciences Report

#14 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northeastern Illinois University is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 7 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northeastern Illinois University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 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 Northeastern Illinois University are $17,032.

Read more about Social Sciences at Northeastern Illinois University

#11

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Western Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Macomb, Illinois. It awarded 29 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Western Illinois University Social Sciences Report

#12

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 35 masters’s social sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, Illinois State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Illinois State

#13

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois

Wheaton College Illinois landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. Wheaton, 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 2 students in 2019-2020.

Wheaton College Illinois not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 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 Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424.

Full Wheaton College Illinois Social Sciences Report

#14

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

University of Chicago ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 383 masters’s 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 University of Chicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Social Sciences Report

#15

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Roosevelt University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Roosevelt is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Roosevelt also took the #15 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt are $21,605, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Roosevelt Social Sciences Report

#16

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, DePaul University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid list. DePaul University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 63 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree social sciences students with aid list, DePaul has also earned the #6 rank 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 DePaul are $19,760.

Full DePaul University Social Sciences Report

#17

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

Loyola University Chicago landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Social Sciences Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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 also took the #4 spot in our “Best Social Sciences Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Social Sciences at Loyola Chicago

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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