by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our Best Illinois Schools For The Money For Those Making $75-$110k ranking - to help you make that decision. This list is proof that you shouldn't avoid normally high-priced schools, since the actual price may be very affordable if you qualify for financial aid.
In This Year's Value Report:
Our analysis looked at 83 schools in Illinois to determine which ones have the best value programs. Our ranking for the best value schools is based on objective factors. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $75-$110k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our analysis found University of Chicago to be the best value (income $75-$110k) school in Illinois in this year’s ranking. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
University of Chicago has the honor of being ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $13,648.
Out of the 83 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, the school is a large private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is Northwestern University a great value, but it is also ranked #2 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $19,870.
A rank of #3 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list means City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a great place for students working on their degree. This small public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is ranked #49 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,078.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list means Elgin Community College is a great place for students working on their degree. Elgin, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Elgin Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,766.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list means City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a great place for students working on their degree. Harold Washington College is a public institution located 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. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,139.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
Carl Sandburg College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking. Carl Sandburg College is located in Galesburg, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.
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 $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $4,956.
With a ranking of #7, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Wilbur Wright College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College a great value, but it is also ranked #52 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,710.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Triton College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. Located in River Grove, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Triton College has the honor of being ranked #47 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,274.
Joliet Junior College landed the #9 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking. Joliet Junior College is located in Joliet, Illinois and has a fairly large student population. It is a public school.
Joliet Junior College has the honor of being ranked #53 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $8,257.
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College ranked #10 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College is a small public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College has the honor of being ranked #69 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,730.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College
With a ranking of #11, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College has the honor of being ranked #59 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $7,711.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
Oakton Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Oakton Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Des Plaines, Illinois.
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 $75-$110k per year is $10,297.
Waubonsee Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Waubonsee is located in Sugar Grove, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Waubonsee Community College has the honor of being ranked #50 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,232.
William Rainey Harper College ranked #14 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. This fairly large public school is located in Palatine, Illinois.
William Rainey Harper College has the honor of being ranked #25 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $12,006.
College of DuPage landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking. COD is located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois and has a large student population. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of DuPage is ranked #31 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $11,619.
Prairie State College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #16. Prairie State College is a small public school located in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Prairie State College is ranked #51 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,602.
Lincoln Land Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking. This small public school is located in Springfield, Illinois.
Not only is Lincoln Land Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #45 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $10,382.
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College is a small public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College has the honor of being ranked #80 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $6,839.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College
John Wood Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Quincy, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is John Wood Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #62 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $9,184.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #20 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school located in Champaign, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign a great value, but it is also ranked #3 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $22,555.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report
With a ranking of #21, Lewis and Clark Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Lewis and Clark Community College is a small public school situated in Godfrey, Illinois.
Not only is Lewis and Clark Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #67 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $8,897.
Danville Area Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking. DACC is a public institution located in Danville, Illinois.
Not only is Danville Area Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #64 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,711.
With a ranking of #23, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a large public institution.
Not only is University of Illinois at Chicago a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Illinois for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $75-$110k per year is $17,399.
McHenry County College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois list. MCC is a medium-sized public school situated in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, McHenry County College is ranked #57 for quality in the state of Illinois. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $11,212.
Shawnee Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $75-$110k) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #25. Shawnee Community College is a small public school situated in Ullin, Illinois.
Not only is Shawnee Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #70 in Illinois for overall quality. Students from families who make $75-$110k a year pay an annual average net price of $9,794.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.