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2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois

15 Ranked Colleges
1,158 Degrees Awarded
$18,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor's in Illinois

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 Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 559,661 liberal arts / sciences and humanities students received their degree, making the major the 3rd most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $26,786 and had an average of $16,538 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 27,169 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,138 and $14,095 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,158 liberal arts / sciences and humanities graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,319 and $24,183 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 15 colleges that offer a degree in liberal arts / sciences and humanities. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent liberal arts / sciences and humanities programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the liberal arts / sciences and humanities program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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 when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois.

Top 15 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities in Illinois

#1

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 144 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also took the #3 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois State is $20,895 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Illinois State University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#2

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Western Illinois University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 169 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, WIU has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Western Illinois University is $16,210 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full Western Illinois University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#3

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Eastern Illinois University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Located in Charleston, Illinois, this medium-sized public school handed out 123 degrees to qualified bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities students in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for EIU is $14,607 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Eastern Illinois University

#4

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Governors State University landed the #4 spot on the list. University Park, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to 108 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GSU, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for GSU is $12,077 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at GSU

#8 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 #5 for the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois. This small school is located in Springfield, Illinois, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIS, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $12,477 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend UIS.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at UIS

#6

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Northern Illinois University is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 61 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

NIU also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend NIU is $18,259 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at NIU

#11 in overall quality

Northeastern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. Northeastern Illinois University is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 158 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

Northeastern Illinois University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. It costs about $15,843 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students per year to attend Northeastern Illinois University.

Full Northeastern Illinois University Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#12 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. SIUC is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 54 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, SIUC has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend SIUC is $16,945 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at SIUC

#9

Lincoln College

Lincoln, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Lincoln College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. Lincoln College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lincoln, Illinois. It awarded 10 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

Lincoln College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Lincoln College is $21,797 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at Lincoln College

#10

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois
#15 in overall quality

Chicago State University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. CSU is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 36 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees to qualified students.

CSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Chicago State University is $11,733 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at CSU

#11

University of St Francis

Joliet, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of St Francis did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. University of St Francis is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joliet, Illinois. It awarded 5 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Saint Francis also made our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #7. It costs about $17,538 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend University of St Francis.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of St Francis

#12

Saint Xavier University

Chicago, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

Saint Xavier University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois list. SXU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SXU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. The estimated yearly cost for Saint Xavier University is $14,528 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students.

Full SXU Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Report

#13

DePaul University

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

DePaul University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. DePaul University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 141 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, DePaul has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for DePaul is $30,090 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at DePaul

#14

North Central College

Naperville, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

North Central College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. North Central College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Naperville, Illinois. It awarded 8 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students list, North Central has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. The yearly cost to attend North Central is $24,786 for illinois bachelor’s degree liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.

The low student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at North Central

#15

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

University of Chicago landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools for a Bachelor’s in Illinois ranking. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 19 bachelors’s liberal arts / sciences and humanities degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. It costs about $27,315 for Illinois Bachelor’s Degree Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities students per year to attend UChicago.

The low student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.

Read full report on Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities at University of Chicago

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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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