by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. Due to the amount of income-based financial aid available, many 'high-priced' schools are more affordable than you think.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 47 schools in Illinois, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Bachelor's Degree programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $48-$75k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a good education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Chicago the best value (income $48-$75k) school in Illinois for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Chicago is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $7,432.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their degree. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois.
Northwestern University has the honor of being ranked #2 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,389.
The quality degree programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois. This large public school is located in Champaign, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,677.
Learn More About Value at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list means University of Illinois at Chicago is a great place for students working on their degree. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Chicago a great value, but it is also ranked #7 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,080.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Trinity Christian College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Palos Heights, Illinois.
Not only is Trinity Christian College a great value, but it is also ranked #35 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $9,286.
With a ranking of #6, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Western Illinois University is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $12,091.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ranked #7 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. Edwardsville, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Southern Illinois University Edwardsville a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $13,291.
Learn More About Value at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Northern Illinois University a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,221.
University of Illinois at Springfield landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. UIS is located in Springfield, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.
University of Illinois at Springfield has the honor of being ranked #43 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $11,014.
Read full value report on University of Illinois at Springfield
Illinois State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. Normal, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Illinois State University has the honor of being ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $18,842.
Eastern Illinois University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Charleston, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Eastern Illinois University a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $12,335.
Saint Xavier University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. Saint Xavier University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois.
Saint Xavier University has the honor of being ranked #34 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,542.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. SIUC is a fairly large public school situated in Carbondale, Illinois.
Not only is Southern Illinois University Carbondale a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $15,676.
Read full value report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Governors State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. GSU is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois.
Not only is Governors State University a great value, but it is also ranked #44 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,987.
Lewis University landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. Lewis University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Romeoville, Illinois.
Not only is Lewis University a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,235.
Aurora University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Aurora, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Aurora University is ranked #19 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $16,168.
Wheaton College Illinois did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wheaton College Illinois is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,167.
Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #18 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
Illinois Institute of Technology has the honor of being ranked #9 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,192.
Concordia University, Chicago ranked #19 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Concordia University, Chicago is ranked #14 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,462.
University of St Francis ranked #20 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. University of Saint Francis is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is University of St Francis a great value, but it is also ranked #21 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $16,560.
Illinois College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Jacksonville, Illinois, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Illinois College has the honor of being ranked #39 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $14,385.
With a ranking of #22, Augustana College did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois list. Augustana is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rock Island, Illinois.
Not only is Augustana College a great value, but it is also ranked #12 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $48-$75k a year pay an annual average net price of $18,923.
Monmouth College landed the #23 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. Monmouth, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Not only is Monmouth College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $16,336.
National Louis University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
National Louis University has the honor of being ranked #37 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $15,503.
Lake Forest College landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois ranking. Lake Forest is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Not only is Lake Forest College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $48-$75k per year is $19,806.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
