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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois

14 Ranked Colleges
699 Degrees Awarded
Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 365,980 liberal arts students received their degree, making the major the 2nd most popular in the country.

Across Illinois, there were 23,860 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 699 liberal arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in liberal arts. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality liberal arts programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the liberal arts program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts (Income $48-$75k) in Illinois

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UChicago has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Chicago is $7,934 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full University of Chicago Liberal Arts Report

#2

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Eastern Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 123 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, EIU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $13,560 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Eastern Illinois University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Eastern Illinois University

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k. Springfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

UIS also took the #7 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $11,857 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Liberal Arts Report

#4

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northern Illinois University landed the #4 spot on the list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois. It awarded 61 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,346 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Northern Illinois University

#5

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k that were part of this year’s ranking, Governors State University landed the #5 spot on the list. GSU is a small school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 108 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

GSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $11,872 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Governors State University.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at GSU

#6

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Western Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. WIU is a medium-sized school located in Macomb, Illinois that handed out 10 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $15,912 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read more about Liberal Arts at WIU

#7

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Saint Xavier University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

SXU also took the #12 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,907 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend SXU.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at SXU

#8

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

University of St Francis came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Saint Francis is a private not-for-profit institution located in Joliet, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also took the #6 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $14,220 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend University of Saint Francis.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts at University of St Francis

#11 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. SIUC is a public institution located in Carbondale, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 54 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SIUC, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for SIUC is $14,985 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

#10

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Illinois State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Normal, Illinois, and it awarded 44 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois State, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $19,080 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Illinois State.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State Liberal Arts Report

#10 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 139 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, Northeastern Illinois University has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $18,180 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Liberal Arts Report

#12

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Chicago State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #12. Chicago State University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 21 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees to qualified students.

CSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Chicago State University is $10,023 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Liberal Arts at Chicago State University

#13

Lincoln College

Lincoln, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Lincoln College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k list. This small school is located in Lincoln, Illinois, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s liberal studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Lincoln College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $22,467 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Studies students whose families make $48-$75k per year to attend Lincoln College.

Read full report on Liberal Arts at Lincoln College

#14

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

North Central College landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Studies Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. North Central College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Naperville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, North Central has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Central College is $23,353 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal studies students whose families make $48-$75k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full North Central College Liberal Arts Report

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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