Whether you prefer the atmosphere of a small college town or bustling big city, Illinois has plenty of options for those looking to advance their education and earn a degree.
Affordability and a good return on investment should be among the most important factors when choosing a school that's both academically acceptable and financially feasible. To aid in this decision-making process, the website Best Value Schools analyzed net price per year, graduation and acceptance rates, and the 20-year net ROI to rank the Top 30 colleges and universities in Illinois that offer the "best value."
More from Best Value Schools on its scores and ranking:
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 98 to 164, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in Illinois.
Here are the 30 best value colleges and universities in Illinois, according to Best Value Schools:
30. Loyola University Chicago
- Net price: $31,069
- Score: 98.58
29. Millikin University
- Net price: $19,208
- Score: 99.40
28. Moody Bible Institute
- Net price: $19,417
- Score: 100.89
27. Lake Forest College
- Net price: $24,500
- Score: 103.95
26. Western Illinois University
- Net price: $16,829
- Score: 104.16
25. Wheaton College
- Net price: $25,258
- Score: 104.47
24. Robert Morris University
- Net price: $19,452
- Score: 105.10
23. Illinois Wesleyan University
- Net price: $27,996
- Score: 105.12
22. Elmhurst College
- Net price: $21,826
- Score: 105.84
21. University of Illinois at Springfield
- Net price: $9,049
- Score: 106.21
20. Concordia University Chicago
- Net price: $18,450
- Score: 106.89
19. Augustana College
- Net price: $24,651
- Score: 108.96
18. North Central College
- Net price: $23,416
- Score: 111.64
17. Lincoln Christian University
- Net price: $17,790
- Score: 112.40
- Net price: $18,768
- Score: 112.51
You can see the top 15 higher education institutions in Illinois that offer the best value here.