2026 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in social sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Social Sciences Schools
Leading the list is Millikin University, our #1 best value for social sciences in Illinois. Millikin University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Decatur. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,792. Students borrow a median of $26,036 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Millikin University generally make around $58,852. That is a strong return on a $26,036 median debt. The acceptance rate is 67%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Chicago earned it the #2 place for social sciences. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $21,347 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $36,189 early in their careers. Set against $21,347 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in social sciences will find it at University Of Illinois At Springfield, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,557, with out-of-state students paying around $20,139. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,848. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $52,565. Set against $25,848 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Western Illinois University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,138. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Western Illinois University generally make around $32,359. That is a strong return on a $27,138 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $21,375. Social Sciences graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $48,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University landed the #6 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Students borrow a median of $26,476 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $36,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Augustana College Illinois landed the #7 spot for social sciences value this year. Augustana College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rock Island. Students from in state pay about $51,598 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,839. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $35,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern Illinois University landed the #8 spot for social sciences value this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $25,160. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $30,669. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #9 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,092. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,933 in student loans. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $31,105. That is a strong return on a $24,933 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Dominican University placed #10 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,828. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $31,659. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
National Louis University earned the #11 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,245. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,437 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of National Louis University earn a median of $30,170 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #12 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,334. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,307 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Carbondale generally make around $34,160. Set against $25,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
University Of Chicago ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $15,370. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $77,662. That is a strong return on a $15,370 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Aurora University earned the #14 position for value in social sciences this year. Aurora University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Aurora. Students from in state pay about $29,170 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $24,507. Social Sciences graduates of Aurora University earn a median of $51,483 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,507 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University earned the #15 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, compared with $26,058 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,824 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $35,439. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Illinois State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Elmhurst College landed the #16 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,505 to complete the social sciences program here. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $51,232. That is a strong return on a $24,505 median debt. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value social sciences schools. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $24,625 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $36,521 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #18 for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the social sciences program here. Social Sciences graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $54,169 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
North Central College landed the #19 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the city of Naperville, North Central College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,726 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $26,575. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from North Central College generally make around $43,264. That is a strong return on a $26,575 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Rockford College placed #20 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the city of Rockford, Rockford College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,780. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $28,094 in student loans. Social Sciences graduates of Rockford College earn a median of $56,020 early in their careers. Set against $28,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University placed #21 among the best values for social sciences. Set in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,648. Students borrow a median of $32,824 to complete the social sciences program here. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Benedictine University generally make around $42,023. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Bradley University came in at #22 for value in social sciences this year. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $31,902. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Mckendree University came in at #23 for value in social sciences this year. Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,740. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $27,000. Early-career social sciences graduates make about $40,015. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Knox College landed the #24 spot for social sciences value this year. Located in the town of Galesburg, Knox College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $57,903. Social Sciences graduates carry a median of $25,255 in student loans. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Knox College generally make around $23,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Knox College admits about 71% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #25 position for value in social sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Typical student debt for social sciences graduates is $22,173. Soon after graduation, social sciences degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $55,350. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Social Sciences Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s social sciences value ranking:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
[Social Sciences](/majors/social-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social sciences education at a price that pays off.
