2027 Best Value Value Schools in Illinois
[Value](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 10 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value value schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Value Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the value degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Springfield the best value for a degree in value in Illinois. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, compared with $20,139 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $61,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. 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, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $59,815 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for value graduates is $24,990. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. Set against $24,990 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 48%.
National Louis University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Students borrow a median of $29,242 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $53,733. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Northern Illinois University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Value graduates carry a median of $25,209 in student loans. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $62,849. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earned the #6 position for value in value this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the value program here. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $51,703. Set against $23,917 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #7 among the best values for value. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,202. Typical student debt for value graduates is $26,774. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Aurora University landed the #8 spot for value value this year. Located in the suburb of Aurora, Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $29,170. Students borrow a median of $24,507 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $42,605. Set against $24,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Northwestern University earned the #9 position for value in value this year. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $73,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University landed the #10 spot for value value this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,405. Typical student debt for value graduates is $25,340. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $65,378. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
View All Value Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
