by our College Data Analytics TeamIt's not easy to decide which school to attend when you have so many options available. 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 Getting Aid ranking - to help you make that decision. 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:
We analyzed 87 schools across Illinois to determine which have the best value 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 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 different 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. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the school is a fairly large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, College of Lake County 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 $5,486.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moraine Valley Community College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. MVCC is a public institution located in Palos Hills, Illinois.
Not only is Moraine Valley Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #48 in Illinois for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $1,831.
Out of the 87 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Elgin Community College landed the #3 spot on the list. ECC is located in Elgin, Illinois and has a medium-sized student population. It is a public school.
Elgin Community College has the honor of being ranked #29 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 $4,140.
The quality degree programs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $14,272.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Value Report
A rank of #5 on our Best 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.
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 net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $4,068 a year.
Full City Colleges of Chicago - Harold Washington College Value Report
College of DuPage did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #6. Glen Ellyn, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is College of DuPage a great value, but it is also ranked #31 in Illinois for overall quality. 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 landed the #7 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. 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 - Wilbur Wright College is ranked #52 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.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College
Lincoln Land Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Lincoln Land Community College is a small public school located in Springfield, Illinois.
Lincoln Land Community College has the honor of being ranked #45 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 $4,604 a year.
South Suburban College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #9. 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 net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $5,021 a year.
William Rainey Harper College landed the #10 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school located in Palatine, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, William Rainey Harper College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $7,112.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.
City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College has the honor of being ranked #49 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 $4,707 a year.
Read full value report on City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College
Oakton Community College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Oakton Community College is a public institution 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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $6,143.
Shawnee Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Shawnee Community College is a public institution located in Ullin, Illinois.
Shawnee Community College has the honor of being ranked #70 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 $2,859 a year.
University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #14. This large public school is located in Chicago, Illinois.
Not only is University of Illinois at Chicago a great value, but it is also ranked #8 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $10,725 a year.
City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking, coming in at #15. City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College is a medium-sized public school located in Chicago, Illinois.
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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $4,199.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College
With a ranking of #16, Danville Area Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. DACC is located in Danville, Illinois and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Danville Area Community College has the honor of being ranked #64 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 $3,615.
Carl Sandburg College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Galesburg, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Carl Sandburg College a great value, but it is also ranked #65 in Illinois for overall quality. The average net price of the school for those who receive financial aid is about $3,676 a year.
Joliet Junior College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Joliet Junior College is a fairly large public school situated in Joliet, Illinois.
Joliet Junior College has the honor of being ranked #53 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 $5,304 a year.
With a ranking of #19, City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
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. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $3,690.
Learn More About Value at City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College
With a ranking of #20, Triton College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Triton College is a medium-sized public school located in River Grove, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Triton College is ranked #47 for quality in the state of Illinois. 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 #21 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. This small public school is located in Godfrey, Illinois.
Lewis and Clark Community College has the honor of being ranked #67 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 $4,137 a year.
McHenry County College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Not only is McHenry County College a great value, but it is also ranked #57 in Illinois for overall quality. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,816.
Waubonsee Community College came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois ranking. Waubonsee Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
Waubonsee Community College has the honor of being ranked #50 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 $6,455.
With a ranking of #24, Black Hawk College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. Located in Moline, Illinois, the school is a small public institution.
Black Hawk College has the honor of being ranked #71 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 $4,807 a year.
With a ranking of #25, John Wood Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (With Aid) in Illinois list. John Wood Community College is a public institution located in Quincy, Illinois.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, John Wood Community College is ranked #62 for quality in the state of Illinois. For those students who receive financial aid, the yearly average net price of the school is around $5,664.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.