2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Illinois
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for anthropology students.
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2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Anthropology Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among anthropology schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $24,348 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $30,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $21,650 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $16,197 early in their careers. Set against $21,650 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Chicago earned it the #3 place for anthropology. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,334. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Anthropology graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at Illinois State University, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,410, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $25,333 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $25,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Northwestern University placed #6 among the best values for anthropology. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the anthropology program here. Soon after graduation, anthropology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $33,208. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value anthropology schools. 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 $26,533 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $18,950. That is a strong return on a $26,533 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #8 for value in anthropology this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Anthropology graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $26,977. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
More Anthropology Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
