2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in Illinois
[Sustainability Science](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/sustainability-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for sustainability science students.
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2026 Best Value Sustainability Science Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the sustainability science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Sustainability Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for sustainability science in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $20,115. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $42,677. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value sustainability science schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the sustainability science program here. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $52,963. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Illinois Institute Of Technology one of the best values for sustainability science. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $26,774. Early-career sustainability science graduates make about $71,315. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern University earned it the #4 place for sustainability science. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Typical student debt for sustainability science graduates is $16,616. Sustainability Science graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $78,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Depaul University earned it the #5 place for sustainability science. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete the sustainability science program here. Sustainability Science graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $57,588 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
