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The 10 Cheapest Colleges in Illinois
What’s Covered:
- Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois
- Tips for Saving Money on College
- How Much Will You Pay for College?
For many, college has become exorbitantly expensive. So, it’s no surprise that when you’re deciding what school to attend, price plays a factor. If you live in Illinois, the good news is that there are plenty of affordable colleges and universities right in your backyard.
Below, we’ve rounded up the cheapest schools in the Prairie State.
Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois
1. Governors State University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $12,004/$12,004
Location: University Park, IL
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,536
Students may choose from 31 bachelor’s, 27 graduate, and five doctoral degree programs, along with more than 25 certificate programs through Governors State University’s four colleges:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education and Human Development
- College of Health and Human Services
Governors State welcomes adult students—the average undergraduate age is 26.7 years old—and minority students, who constitute more than half of the student population.
Learn more about Governors State University and what it takes to get accepted.
2. University of Illinois at Springfield
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $12,252/$22,017
Location: Springfield, IL
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,342
The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs through its four academic colleges:
- College of Business and Management
- College of Health, Science, and Technology
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Public Affairs and Education
UIS is a rural-serving institution—ensuring students from rural areas have access to higher education. Top programs include:
- Computer Science
- Biology
- Elementary Education
- Psychology
- Business Administration
Learn more about the University of Illinois at Springfield and what it takes to get accepted.
3. Northeastern Illinois University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $12,383/$22,726
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,042
Founded with the mission of preparing teachers and administrators, today, Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) offers a wide variety of academic disciplines. Diversity is a focus of the university, which is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Minority students make up over 60% of the student body, and students speak more than 40 different languages. In fact, NEIU is often considered the most diverse public comprehensive university in the Midwest.
The NEIU educational experience is characterized by hands-on learning, field research, and community engagement, offering plenty of opportunities for students to work closely with faculty and showcase their work.
Learn more about Northeastern Illinois University and what it takes to get accepted.
4. National Louis University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $12,705/$12,705
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 93%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 4,239
National Louis University (NLU) offers a well-rounded undergraduate education, offering over 80 career-focused certificate, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in fields like:
- Business Administration
- Education
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
NLU has always played a critical role in the education sector, helping start the National Kindergarten Movement and promoting training in early childhood education.
Learn more about National Louis University and what it takes to get accepted.
5. Chicago State University
Tuition: $12,754/$12,754
Location: Chicago, IL
Acceptance Rate: 41%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,324
A predominantly Black public university, that is, a college with at least 40% Black or African American undergraduate population. About 75% of the faculty also identify as people of color.
Chicago State University is home to four degree-granting colleges, along with the Honors College and School of Graduate and Professional Studies. These colleges include:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Business
- College of Education
- College of Health Sciences and Pharmacy
Learn more about Chicago State University and what it takes to get accepted.
6. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Tuition In-State/Out-of-State: $12,922/$12,922
Location: Edwardsville, IL
Acceptance Rate: 97%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,975
The newer of the two institutions that comprise the Southern Illinois University system, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE), largely caters to in-state students, who constitute roughly 80% of the student body. New undergraduate students at SIUE receive a guaranteed tuition rate for four continuous academic years.
SIUE receives high recognition from several communities—for example, it’s designated a Military Friendly School and earned strong ratings for its LGBTQ-friendly campus.
Learn more about Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and what it takes to get accepted.
7. Northern Illinois University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $13,248/$13,248
Location: DeKalb, IL
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 11,358
Boasting famous alumni like Joan Allen (actress), Tammy Duckworth (Senator), Wood Harris (actor), and Allan Cox (author), NIU is a comprehensive university consisting of seven degree-granting colleges. Popular undergraduate programs at NIU include:
- Psychology
- Health Sciences
- Computer Science
- Business Administration
- Mechanical Engineering
NIU is one of just two public universities in Illinois that compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association—the Huskies play in NCAA Division I.
Learn more about Northern Illinois University and what it takes to get accepted.
8. Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $13,334/$13,334
Location: Carbondale, IL
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,195
Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) holds an R1 designation, placing it among the top 5% of U.S. higher education institutions for research. The university is also known for its diversity, attracting students from all 50 states and over 100 countries.
SIU offers more than 200 majors and was the first university to provide a program supporting students with specific learning disabilities: Project ARCH, founded in 1978. This program helped SIU establish its reputation for diversity of thought and a unique approach to learning.
Learn more about Southern Illinois University and what it takes to get accepted.
9. Eastern Illinois University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $13,671/$16,217
Location: Charleston, IL
Acceptance Rate: 68%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,849
Originally a two-year teacher’s college, today, Eastern Illinois University (EIU) is a comprehensive university offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education, business, arts, sciences, and humanities across four colleges and several additional schools, including the Graduate School.
EIU isn’t just affordable for in-state students—it’s also cost-friendly for students across the Midwest. Undergraduates from neighboring states—Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin—pay in-state tuition rates.
Learn more about Eastern Illinois University and what it takes to get accepted.
10. Western Illinois University
Tuition In-state/Out-of-state: $15,264/$15,264
Location: Macomb, IL
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,025
Innovative teaching, research, and service are the cornerstones of Western Illinois’ mission. The university offers a range of in-demand undergraduate and graduate programs, along with integrated, pre-professional, and certificate programs.
Western Illinois University (WIU) helps keep education affordable through its cost guarantee, which locks in the per-hour rate for incoming undergraduates for four years. WIU was the first university in Illinois to offer a program like this.
Learn more about Western Illinois University and what it takes to get accepted.
Tips for Saving Money on College
1. Apply for schools that meet 100% of demonstrated need.
The sticker price is not what the vast majority of students end up paying. In fact, some colleges have committed to meeting 100% of your demonstrated need, usually without loans, opening up an enormous number of possibilities. Focus on these schools in your search.
2. Apply for scholarships.
Colleges themselves are usually your best source of scholarships—some offer generous awards, even full rides, for students with particularly strong academic credentials. You should also search for outside scholarships, awarded by philanthropic foundations and for-profit companies, to supplement these awards—they can really add up.
3. Attend an in-state, public college.
In-state public schools are typically significantly less expensive than private institutions or out-of-state public schools. Plus, you can often commute to an in-state school, rather than live on campus, saving you money on housing.
Keep in mind that private colleges with generous financial aid can sometimes cost less than public schools; however, this list is based on sticker price only.
How Much Will You Pay for College?
Whether you’re looking to attend college in Illinois or elsewhere, it’s important to know how much you should expect to pay for your education. Our free financial aid calculator can help you discover your anticipated cost of tuition and expenses and hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States.
