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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

27 Ranked Colleges
1,566 Degrees Awarded
$21,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master's in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 183,889 psychology students received their degree, making the major the 7th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,496 and had an average of $36,227 in loans still to pay off.

Across Illinois, there were 6,271 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,828 and $49,680 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,566 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,267 and $46,814 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 27 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in psychology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent psychology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the psychology 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 Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree psychology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#1 in overall quality

Out of the 27 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 195 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern University Psychology Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Chicago. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 12 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Chicago are $61,548.

Read more about Psychology at UChicago

#8 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 29 degrees to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. SIUE is a fairly large school located in Edwardsville, Illinois that handed out 29 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

SIUE not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are $9,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Psychology at SIUE

#9 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIC is a large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 13 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIC, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIC are $27,036, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Chicago Psychology Report

#6

Governors State University

University Park, Illinois
#23 in overall quality

Governors State University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Governors State University is a public institution located in University Park, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 78 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GSU, the school also landed the #23 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GSU are $14,674, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at Governors State University

#7

Northern Illinois University

Dekalb, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Northern Illinois University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

NIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NIU are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Northern Illinois University

#8

Aurora University

Aurora, Illinois

Aurora University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Aurora is a medium-sized school located in Aurora, Illinois that handed out 11 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Aurora also took the #0 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Aurora University are $13,200.

Full Aurora University Psychology Report

#9

Illinois State University

Normal, Illinois
#10 in overall quality

Illinois State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #9. Illinois State is a public institution located in Normal, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 35 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois State also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Illinois State University

#10

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois
#19 in overall quality

Eastern Illinois University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Eastern Illinois University is a medium-sized public school situated in Charleston, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

EIU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at EIU are $20,761.

Read more about Psychology at EIU

#11

Wheaton College Illinois

Wheaton, Illinois
#6 in overall quality

Wheaton College Illinois came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 43 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wheaton College Illinois, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424.

Read more about Psychology at Wheaton College Illinois

#12

University of Illinois at Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

With a ranking of #12, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Springfield is a public institution located in Springfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UIS are $16,757, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Illinois at Springfield Psychology Report

#15 in overall quality

Southern Illinois University Carbondale came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is located in Carbondale, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

SIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are $32,928.

Full SIUC Psychology Report

#14

National Louis University

Chicago, Illinois
#11 in overall quality

National Louis University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 176 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

NLU also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NLU are $12,096.

Read full report on Psychology at National Louis University

#15

Western Illinois University

Macomb, Illinois
#22 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Western Illinois University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Western Illinois University is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

WIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #22 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Western Illinois University are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at WIU

#7 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Illinois Institute of Technology is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 14 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Illinois Tech also took the #7 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois Tech are $30,695, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Illinois Tech Psychology Report

#17

Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, Illinois
#21 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Elmhurst University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Elmhurst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Elmhurst, Illinois. It awarded 23 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Elmhurst also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #21. Average graduate tuition and fees at Elmhurst University are $32,300, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Elmhurst

#18

Trinity Christian College

Palos Heights, Illinois
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, Trinity Christian College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Trinity Christian is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Palos Heights, Illinois. It awarded 14 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Trinity Christian did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity Christian College are $10,767, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at Trinity Christian

#19

North Park University

Chicago, Illinois
#20 in overall quality

North Park University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #19. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.

North Park did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at North Park are $14,076.

Read more about Psychology at North Park University

#20

Concordia University, Chicago

River Forest, Illinois
#24 in overall quality

Concordia University, Chicago ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. This medium-sized school is located in River Forest, Illinois, and it awarded 44 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Concordia University, Chicago also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia University, Chicago are $9,378, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at Concordia University, Chicago

#21

Chicago State University

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago State University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CSU are $15,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Chicago State University

#22

McKendree University

Lebanon, Illinois

McKendree University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. McKendree University is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at McKendree University are $9,324, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full McKendree University Psychology Report

#23

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois

Judson University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Judson University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Elgin, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Judson are $18,900, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Judson University

#24

Roosevelt University

Chicago, Illinois
#17 in overall quality

Roosevelt University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Roosevelt University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 86 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our illinois master’s degree psychology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Roosevelt has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Roosevelt University are $21,605, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Roosevelt University Psychology Report

#25

Benedictine University

Lisle, Illinois
#25 in overall quality

Benedictine University landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 25 students in 2019-2020.

Benedictine U also took the #25 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Benedictine University are $19,709.

Read more about Psychology at Benedictine University

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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