by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. College Factual has developed its Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking as one thing you can use to help make this decision. 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:
We analyzed 47 schools across Illinois to determine which have the best value Bachelor's Degree 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.
When determining the value of a school in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking, we first look at its average net price of a student coming from a family that makes $30-$48k a year. The net price is defined as the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that the student receives. 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 collection 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 $30-$48k) school in Illinois for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois.
University of Chicago has the honor of being ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $3,316.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list means Northwestern University is a great place for students working on their degree. Northwestern is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Northwestern University is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,236.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. UIUC is located in Champaign, Illinois and has a large student population. It is a public school.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has the honor of being ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $8,821.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list means University of Illinois at Chicago is a great place for students working on their degree. UIC is a large public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
University of Illinois at Chicago has the honor of being ranked #7 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,963.
A rank of #5 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list means Trinity Christian College is a great place for students working on their degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Palos Heights, Illinois.
Trinity Christian College has the honor of being ranked #35 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,369.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. SIUE is located in Edwardsville, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has the honor of being ranked #23 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,268.
Read full value report on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Western Illinois University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Located in Macomb, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Western Illinois University has the honor of being ranked #26 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,579.
With a ranking of #8, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Wheaton College Illinois is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,676.
University of St Francis landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Joliet, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of St Francis is ranked #21 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $10,641.
With a ranking of #10, Governors State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in University Park, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Governors State University is ranked #44 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $6,587.
Northern Illinois University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. NIU is a fairly large public school situated in Dekalb, Illinois.
Not only is Northern Illinois University a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,005.
Illinois State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Illinois State University is a large public school located in Normal, Illinois.
Not only is Illinois State University a great value, but it is also ranked #6 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $15,261.
With a ranking of #13, University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Springfield, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Illinois at Springfield is ranked #43 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,109.
Read full value report on University of Illinois at Springfield
Saint Xavier University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Saint Xavier University a great value, but it is also ranked #34 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,758.
With a ranking of #15, Eastern Illinois University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. EIU is located in Charleston, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Eastern Illinois University a great value, but it is also ranked #38 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $9,800.
With a ranking of #16, Lewis University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. This medium-sized private not-for-profit school is located in Romeoville, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lewis University is ranked #24 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $12,328.
Aurora University ranked #17 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois list. Aurora, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Aurora University has the honor of being ranked #19 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,464.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #18 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Southern Illinois University Carbondale a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $13,989.
Learn More About Value at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Monmouth College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Monmouth, Illinois, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Monmouth 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 $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,234.
Quincy University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Quincy, Illinois, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Quincy University a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,607.
Illinois College landed the #21 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Not only is Illinois College a great value, but it is also ranked #39 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,795.
Concordia University, Chicago did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. River Forest, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Concordia University, Chicago has the honor of being ranked #14 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $16,027.
Bradley University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Peoria, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Bradley University has the honor of being ranked #10 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,643.
Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #24 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Illinois Institute of Technology is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $30-$48k per year is $19,074.
Lake Forest College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for the Money (Income $30-$48k) in Illinois ranking. Lake Forest is located in Lake Forest, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Lake Forest College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $30-$48k a year pay an annual average net price of $17,327.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.