2021 Best Affordable Colleges in Illinois for Students from Canada
23
Colleges
$32,556
Avg Tuition & Fees*
48%
Avg 4-Year Grad Rate*
When it comes to choosing a college, international students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
We analyzed 23 colleges and universities across Illinois to determine which were the best for Canadian students in Illinois. Our ranking methodology focuses on a number of different objective factors - such as the overall value of the school, number of total international students at the school, and the percentage of international students on campus - to make this determination.
Get more details on our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
We know that one set of rankings doesn't always help you determine the best school for you, so we've created the ability to narrow your list by location as well as alternative rankings that prioritize different factors such as those of importance to online students or returning adults or those who value diversity and overall quality.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Top Value Colleges in Illinois for Students from Canada
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our 2021 rankings named Eastern Illinois University the best affordable school for Canadian students in Illinois working on their bachelor’s degree. EIU is a public institution located in Charleston, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,076 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 3.0% are international. Students studying at EIU come from such countries as India, China, and Nigeria. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at EIU runs, on average, about $14,551. Graduate students pay around $21,407 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Eastern Illinois University
A rank of #2 on our list means Illinois State University is a great place for Canadian students in Illinois working on their bachelor’s degree. Illinois State is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 4,745 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 2.6% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as India, Panama, and China come to Illinois State to study. International students at Illinois State can expect to pay, on average, about $24,172 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $11,773 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Illinois State University Report
The excellent bachelor’s degree programs at Western Illinois University helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools for Canadian students in Illinois. WIU is located in Macomb, Illinois and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,560 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 3.4% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as India, Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria come to WIU to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at WIU runs, on average, about $13,297. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $12,182 per year.
Read More…
Out of the 23 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Chicago landed the #4 spot on the list. University of Illinois at Chicago is a large public school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 5,247 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 10.4% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at UIC are India, China, and Iran. International students at UIC can expect to pay, on average, about $30,370 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $28,468 per year.
Read full report on University of Illinois at Chicago
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Principia College. The school came in at #5 in this year’s ranking. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Elsah, Illinois, and it awarded 102 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 20.9% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at Principia come from such countries as Kenya, Canada, and Brazil. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Principia is about $30,820 a year, on average.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Principia College
Northern Illinois University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking. NIU is located in Dekalb, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3,080 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
International students make up 4.4% of the total student body at the school. Students studying at NIU come from such countries as India, China, and Saudi Arabia. International students at NIU can expect to pay, on average, about $14,738 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $11,390 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Northern Illinois University Report
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #7 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the large public school awarded 9,305 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 19.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at UIUC are China, India, and South Korea. International students at UIUC can expect to pay, on average, about $37,632 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $30,862 a year in average tuition and fees.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report
Southern Illinois University Carbondale did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking, coming in at #8. Carbondale, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,476 students in 2020-2021.
Around 8.1% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at SIUC come from such countries as India, Saudi Arabia, and China. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at SIUC is about $15,240 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $33,064 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read full report on Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Chicago State University landed the #9 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 316 students in 2020-2021.
Around 3.4% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at CSU come from such countries as India, Canada, and China. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at CSU is about $11,204 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $15,218 a year in average tuition and fees.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read More…
With a ranking of #10, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Wheaton, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 661 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 5.7% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at Wheaton College Illinois are China, South Korea, and Philippines. International students at Wheaton College Illinois can expect to pay, on average, about $40,820 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $18,096 per year.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%.
Read More…
McKendree University landed the #11 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. McKendree is located in Lebanon, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 447 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the total number of students at the school, 3.9% are international. Students from as far away as Canada, United Kingdom, and New Zealand come to McKendree to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at McKendree runs, on average, about $33,050. Graduate students pay around $9,756 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full McKendree University Report
Aurora University did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Aurora is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Aurora, Illinois. It awarded 1,259 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 0.5% are international. Students from as far away as Canada, Latvia, and Germany come to Aurora to study. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Aurora runs, on average, about $26,760. Graduate students pay around $14,100 a year in average tuition and fees.
Read More…
Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #13 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 135 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Around 14.7% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at TIU Illinois come from such countries as South Korea, China, and Canada. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at TIU Illinois is about $33,298 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $17,780 a year in average tuition and fees.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Trinity International University - Illinois
Columbia College Chicago came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking. Columbia College Chicago is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1,335 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 3.9% of the total student population at the school is international. Students studying at Columbia come from such countries as China, South Korea, and India. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Columbia runs, on average, about $27,786. Graduate students pay around $2,350 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full Columbia College Chicago Report
Roosevelt University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking. Roosevelt University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 820 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 4.0% of the total student body at the school. Students from as far away as China, India, and Taiwan come to Roosevelt to study. International students at Roosevelt can expect to pay, on average, about $31,493 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $21,605 per year.
Read More…
DePaul University landed the #16 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. DePaul is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3,335 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 5.1% are international. Students studying at DePaul come from such countries as China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at DePaul is about $42,012 a year, on average. Graduate students pay around $18,341 a year in average tuition and fees.
Full DePaul University Report
Loyola University Chicago ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3,353 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 3.8% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Loyola Chicago are China, India, and Saudi Arabia. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Loyola Chicago runs, on average, about $47,808. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $19,894 per year.
Full Loyola University Chicago Report
Lake Forest College did quite well in the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Lake Forest, Illinois, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 449 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 13.2% are international. The top three countries sending students to study at Lake Forest are China, Canada, and Swaziland. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at Lake Forest runs, on average, about $51,002. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $15,252 per year.
Full Lake Forest College Report
Robert Morris University Illinois came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois ranking.
Students from as far away as India, Canada, and Pakistan come to RMU to study.
Read More…
Illinois Institute of Technology landed the #20 spot on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 620 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 33.9% are international. Students studying at Illinois Tech come from such countries as China, India, and Spain. Out-of-state tuition and fees for undergraduates at Illinois Tech is about $50,375 a year, on average. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $30,822 per year.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read More…
School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois list. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a small private not-for-profit school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 588 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Around 30.8% of the total student population at the school is international. The top three countries sending students to study at School of the Art Institute of Chicago are China, South Korea, and India. Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state) for undergraduates at School of the Art Institute of Chicago runs, on average, about $50,623. Graduate students pay around $45,601 a year in average tuition and fees.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on School of the Art Institute of Chicago
With a ranking of #22, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2021 Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois. This large private not-for-profit school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 2,722 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
International students make up 16.3% of the total student body at the school. The top three countries sending students to study at Northwestern are China, India, and South Korea. International students at Northwestern can expect to pay, on average, about $60,768 a year to attend the school. The average tuition and fees for graduate programs is $56,567 per year.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Northwestern University
University of Chicago ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Colleges for Canadian Students in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, the fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2,163 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Of the total number of students at the school, 26.6% are international. Students from as far away as China, India, and South Korea come to UChicago to study. International students at UChicago can expect to pay, on average, about $60,963 a year to attend the school. Graduate students pay around $63,936 a year in average tuition and fees.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read More…
Best Affordable Colleges in the Great Lakes Region
View Best Affordable Colleges for International Students Nationwide >
More Rankings >
college factual
