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2024 Best Schools for the Money (No Aid) in Illinois

87 Colleges
$11,379 Avg Undergrad Tuition & Fees*
$11,034 Avg Room & Board*

There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Value Illinois Schools ranking - to help you make that decision.

In This Year's Value Report:

Your Choice of School Matters

We analyzed 87 schools across Illinois to determine which have the best value 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. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.

Our Methodology

To determine the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. 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.

Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.

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.

With Aid (All Income Levels) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $0-$30k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $30-$48k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $48-$75k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income $75-$110k) Best Value Degrees
With Aid (Income Over $110k) Best Value Degrees
To get a better picture of the best value schools for your income range or for whether or not you'll receive aid, click on one of the tiles above. If you'd rather work on your degree in a specific area of the country, you might be interested in our rankings by place. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.

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.

Best Value Schools (No Aid) in Illinois

Learn more about these excellent schools below:

1
ECC crest
Elgin Community College
Elgin, Illinois

Our 2024 rankings named Elgin Community College the best value (no aid) school in Illinois. ECC is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois.

Not only is Elgin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,765 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $5,625 a year.

Read full value report on Elgin Community College

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $30,128 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $30,317 a year.

Read full value report on University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3
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College of Lake County
Grayslake, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend College of Lake County. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois.

College of Lake County has the honor of being ranked #12 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,188 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $10,556 a year.

Full College of Lake County Value Report

4
Concordia University, Chicago crest
Concordia University, Chicago
River Forest, Illinois

The quality degree programs at Concordia University, Chicago helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.

Not only is Concordia University, Chicago a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Illinois for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $44,740 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,808 a year.

Full Concordia University, Chicago Value Report

5
Illinois State crest
Illinois State University
Normal, Illinois

A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list means Illinois State University is a great place for students working on their degree. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Illinois State University is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,114 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $19,919 a year.

Read full value report on Illinois State University

6
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Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, Illinois

With a ranking of #6, Lincoln Land Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. LLCC is located in Springfield, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.

Lincoln Land Community College has the honor of being ranked #45 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,959 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $7,119 a year.

Read full value report on Lincoln Land Community College

7
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Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, Illinois

Moraine Valley Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. MVCC is a fairly large public school situated in Palos Hills, Illinois.

Moraine Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #48 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $13,484 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $5,366 a year.

Read full value report on Moraine Valley Community College

8

Rasmussen University - Illinois came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the school is a small private for-profit institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Rasmussen University - Illinois is ranked #15 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $22,604 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,336 a year.

Full Rasmussen University - Illinois Value Report

9
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South Suburban College
South Holland, Illinois

South Suburban College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. SSC is a small public school situated in South Holland, Illinois.

South Suburban College has the honor of being ranked #44 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,433 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $4,400 per year for graduate students.

Full South Suburban College Value Report

10
Oakton Community College crest
Oakton Community College
Des Plaines, Illinois

Oakton Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #10. Oakton Community College is a public institution located in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Oakton Community College has the honor of being ranked #37 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $18,465 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $8,019 a year.

Learn More About Value at Oakton Community College

11

With a ranking of #11, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has the honor of being ranked #30 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,377 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,197 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

12

City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is ranked #39 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,648 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $8,128 a year.

Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College

13

University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

University of Illinois at Chicago has the honor of being ranked #8 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $27,853 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $29,527 per year for graduate students.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Value Report

14

Danville Area Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. DACC is a small public school situated in Danville, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Danville Area Community College is ranked #64 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,250 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $3,600 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Danville Area Community College

15
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College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, Illinois

College of DuPage did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. This large public school is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

College of DuPage has the honor of being ranked #31 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $21,774 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $12,024 a year.

Read full value report on College of DuPage

16
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Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, Illinois

Prairie State College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. Chicago Heights, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Prairie State College is ranked #51 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,858 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,516 per year for graduate students.

Learn More About Value at Prairie State College

17
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Triton College
River Grove, Illinois

Triton College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. Triton College is a medium-sized public school situated in River Grove, Illinois.

Triton College has the honor of being ranked #47 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $18,264 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $7,074 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Triton College

18

With a ranking of #18, Shawnee Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. Shawnee Community College is located in Ullin, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.

Not only is Shawnee Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #70 in Illinois for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $12,390 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $6,300 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Shawnee Community College

19
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Southwestern Illinois College
Belleville, Illinois

Southwestern Illinois College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. SWIC is located in Belleville, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Southwestern Illinois College is ranked #73 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost without aid for the school is $11,060 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $4,670 a year.

Full Southwestern Illinois College Value Report

20
Carl Sandburg College crest
Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, Illinois

Carl Sandburg College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school located in Galesburg, Illinois.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Carl Sandburg College is ranked #65 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,070 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,210 a year.

Learn More About Value at Carl Sandburg College

21

With a ranking of #21, John Wood Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. John Wood Community College is a small public school located in Quincy, Illinois.

John Wood Community College has the honor of being ranked #62 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $15,090 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $6,900 a year.

Full John Wood Community College Value Report

22
Harper College crest
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, Illinois

William Rainey Harper College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. Located in Palatine, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.

In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, William Rainey Harper College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average cost without aid for the school is $24,300 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $14,430 a year.

Learn More About Value at William Rainey Harper College

23

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking, coming in at #23. Northern Illinois University is a fairly large public school located in Dekalb, Illinois.

Northern Illinois University has the honor of being ranked #26 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $25,738 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $22,390 per year for graduate students.

Read full value report on Northern Illinois University

24
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Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, Illinois

Waubonsee Community College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois ranking. Waubonsee is a medium-sized public school situated in Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Waubonsee Community College has the honor of being ranked #50 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,140 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $9,869 a year.

Read full value report on Waubonsee Community College

25

With a ranking of #25, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Illinois list. Harry S Truman College is a small public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.

City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College has the honor of being ranked #49 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $19,648 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $8,128 a year.

Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College

Best Value Schools (No Aid) in the Great Lakes Region

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Notes and References

Footnotes

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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