by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking is part of that endeavor. A school that typically has a high sticker price may actually be very affordable, depending on how much need-based financial aid you receive.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 87 schools in Illinois, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking is to look at the school's average net price for students with families that make $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of tuition, fees, and room and board minus any financial aid awarded to the student. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
We go into more detail on these factors on our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Chicago the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Illinois. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Chicago is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,993.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and has a large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwestern University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,911.
The quality degree programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,651.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report
The quality degree programs at Elgin Community College helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois. ECC is a medium-sized public school situated in Elgin, Illinois.
Elgin Community College has the honor of being ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,633.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list means College of Lake County is a great place for students working on their degree. This fairly large public school is located in Grayslake, Illinois.
College of Lake County has the honor of being ranked #12 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,118.
College of DuPage came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. COD is a large public school situated in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
College of DuPage has the honor of being ranked #31 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,711.
Moraine Valley Community College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Moraine Valley Community College has the honor of being ranked #48 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,561.
With a ranking of #8, Joliet Junior College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Joliet Junior College is a public institution located in Joliet, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Joliet Junior College is ranked #53 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,766.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. Harold Washington College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College has the honor of being ranked #39 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,460.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Wilbur Wright College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is ranked #52 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,363.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Waubonsee Community College is ranked #50 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,720.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. Harper College is located in Palatine, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Not only is William Rainey Harper College a great value, but it is also ranked #25 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,187.
Lincoln Land Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #13. This small public school is located in Springfield, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lincoln Land Community College is ranked #45 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,237.
University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Illinois at Chicago is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,739.
Carl Sandburg College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Galesburg, Illinois.
Carl Sandburg College has the honor of being ranked #65 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,076.
With a ranking of #16, Black Hawk College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. BHC is a public institution located in Moline, Illinois.
Black Hawk College has the honor of being ranked #71 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,715.
Triton College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. River Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Triton College a great value, but it is also ranked #47 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,916.
With a ranking of #18, Danville Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Danville, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Danville Area Community College is ranked #64 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,295.
With a ranking of #19, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College a great value, but it is also ranked #49 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,819.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College a great value, but it is also ranked #69 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,503.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College
Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. Godfrey, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lewis and Clark Community College is ranked #67 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $2,580.
Oakton Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking. Located in Des Plaines, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is Oakton Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #37 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,622.
Prairie State College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Prairie State College is a small public school situated in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
Not only is Prairie State College a great value, but it is also ranked #51 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $4,270.
South Suburban College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #24. This small public school is located in South Holland, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, South Suburban College is ranked #44 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $5,109.
With a ranking of #25, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College a great value, but it is also ranked #59 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $3,738.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.