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 Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking is part of that endeavor. The amount of financial aid you could receive at various schools, including some with high sticker prices, may surprise you.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 46 schools in Illinois, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value Associate Degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best value schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. In the next few paragraphs, we'll talk a little about what we use in our analysis and why.
The first step of determing the value of a school in our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking is to look at the school's average net price - 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 take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a host of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Find out more about our best value ranking methodology.
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 College of Lake County the best value (with aid) school in Illinois for students working on their associate degree. College of Lake County is a public institution located in Grayslake, Illinois.
Not only is College of Lake County a great value, but it is also ranked #1 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,486 a year.
The quality degree programs at Moraine Valley Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois. Located in Palos Hills, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
Not only is Moraine Valley Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $1,831 a year.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Elgin Community College. It ranked #3 on our 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Elgin Community College is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,140 a year.
A rank of #4 on our Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list means City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is a great place for students working on their degree. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College is ranked #10 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,068.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College
The quality degree programs at City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.
City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College has the honor of being ranked #5 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,670 a year.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Olive-Harvey College
College of DuPage ranked #6 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. COD is a public institution located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of DuPage is ranked #8 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,440 a year.
City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #7. This medium-sized public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,439 a year.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College Value Report
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Springfield, 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, Lincoln Land Community College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,604.
South Suburban College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. SSC is a public institution located in South Holland, Illinois.
Not only is South Suburban College a great value, but it is also ranked #11 in Illinois for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,021.
With a ranking of #10, William Rainey Harper College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Palatine, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
William Rainey Harper College has the honor of being ranked #4 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,112 a year.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #11. City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College is a small public school 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 #15 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,707.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
Oakton Community College landed the #12 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. This medium-sized public school is located in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Oakton Community College has the honor of being ranked #9 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,143.
With a ranking of #13, Shawnee Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. This small public school is located in Ullin, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Shawnee Community College is ranked #30 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $2,859.
With a ranking of #14, City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school situated in Chicago, Illinois.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College has the honor of being ranked #21 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,199.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College Value Report
Danville Area Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. DACC is a public institution located in Danville, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Danville Area Community College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,615 a year.
Carl Sandburg College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Carl Sandburg College is a small public school located in Galesburg, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Carl Sandburg College is ranked #26 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $3,676.
Joliet Junior College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #17. Joliet, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Joliet Junior College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Illinois for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,304.
With a ranking of #18, City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Richard J Daley College is located in Chicago, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.
City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College has the honor of being ranked #29 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,690 a year.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College Value Report
Triton College landed the #19 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Triton College is located in River Grove, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Triton College a great value, but it is also ranked #13 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $6,017 a year.
Lewis and Clark Community College landed the #20 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. 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 #28 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,137 a year.
McHenry County College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Crystal Lake, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
McHenry County College has the honor of being ranked #20 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,816 a year.
Waubonsee Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #22. Sugar Grove, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Waubonsee Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #16 in Illinois for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,455.
Black Hawk College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. BHC is a public institution located in Moline, Illinois.
Black Hawk College has the honor of being ranked #31 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,807.
John Wood Community College ranked #24 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. John Wood Community College is a small public school situated in Quincy, Illinois.
John Wood Community College has the honor of being ranked #24 in Illinois for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,664 a year.
Prairie State College ranked #25 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Prairie State College is a public institution located in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Prairie State College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Illinois. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $7,059 a year.
View Best Value Associate Degree Schools (With Aid) Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.