If you’re a high school student in Illinois, you might be wondering about your options for university. Are low-tuition colleges and universities as good as expensive ones? How do you find the right program for you? Luckily, Illinois has some of the best public universities in the US, so you can absolutely get a great education at the cheapest colleges In Illinois.
Our guide to the most affordable colleges in Illinois includes in-person programs all over the state, as well as the cheapest online colleges in Illinois for those who want to study remotely.
We cover tuition costs, school rankings, and some of the best undergraduate programs at the cheapest universities in Illinois to help you find the perfect fit.
How Much Does College Cost in Illinois?
The average yearly tuition at an Illinois public school is $14,455 for undergraduate studies. For a private institution, the average tuition is $35,570 per year. These numbers include only the cost of tuition, not room and board. Some other expenses that students might expect to pay include books and supplies, meal plans, non-resident fees, and technology fees.
Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois: The Basics
| School | Location | Undergraduate Tuition | Graduate Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago State University | Chicago | $312/credit (in state), $619/credit (out of state) | $325/credit (in state), $630/credit (out of state) |
| Western Illinois University | Macomb | $317.18/credit (domestic), $475.77/credit (international) | $364.01/credit (domestic), $546.02/credit (international) |
| Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | Carbondale | $321.25/credit (domestic), $803.13/credit (international) | $469.50/credit (resident), $1,173.75/credit (non-resident) |
| Eastern Illinois University | Charleston | $323.63/credit (in state), $404.54/credit (out of state) | $329.26/credit (in state), $790.22/credit (out of state) |
| Northern Illinois University | DeKalb | $360.80/credit (domestic), $721.60 (international) | $503.60/credit (domestic), $872.84/credit (international) |
| Aurora University | Aurora | $438/credit | $492-$670/credit, depending on program |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville | $6,279/semester (domestic), $14,425.50/semester (international) | $4,125.60/semester (domestic), $10,017.60/semester (international) |
| National Louis University | Chicago | $10,755/year | $685-$774/credit, depending on program |
| Illinois State University | Normal | $15,416/year (in state), $26,940/year (out of state) | $414.69 (in state), $861.35 (out of state) |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Champaign | $17,138-$22,324/year (in state), $35,110-$42,796/year (out of state) | $13,176/year (in-state base rate), $28,464/year (out-of-state base rate) |
Cheapest Universities in Illinois: A Closer Look
Tuition at famous colleges and universities in Illinois, like Northwestern University or DePaul University, can be very expensive. Luckily, Illinois has a lot of highly-ranked affordable colleges, too! Our list below of the cheapest colleges in Illinois includes cost estimations and popular majors to help you find the best fit for your academic and career goals.
Cheapest Online Colleges in Illinois
| School | Online Tuition | Programs Available Online |
|---|---|---|
| Rasmussen College-Illinois | $125-$865/credit, depending on program | Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral |
| Governors State University | $313/credit | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | $458.40-$510.90/credit, depending on program | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral |
| American InterContinental University | $345/credit | Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s |
| Lincoln Christian University | $7,410/semester | Bachelor’s, Master’s |
Cheapest Colleges in Illinois by In-State Tuition
- Chicago State University | $312/credit
- Western Illinois University | $317.18/credit
- Southern Illinois University-Carbondale | $321.25/credit
- Eastern Illinois University | $323.63/credit
- Northern Illinois University | $360.80/credit
Cheapest Colleges in Illinois by Out-of-State Tuition
- Northern Illinois University | $360.80/credit
- Eastern Illinois University | $404.54/credit
- Aurora University | $438/credit
- Western Illinois University | $475.77/credit
- Chicago State University | $619/credit
Why Is College So Expensive?
College is expensive because universities invest in excellent student services, including student activities and career services. They also provide academic opportunities for students through faculty, libraries, and hands-on activities in labs and research facilities that prepare them for their careers. We’ve broken down the major components of college expenses below.
Tuition
Tuition is the amount you pay for the classes or courses you’re taking in the program you’ve chosen. You might pay tuition per semester, academic year, or credit. The cost of tuition generally increases with the number of credits you take or your program length. Some schools have yearly tuition increases due to inflation, while others lock in tuition rates for the length of your degree program.
Housing and Transportation
On-campus housing is notoriously expensive, but transportation can also contribute to higher expenses in college, especially if you are far from the university you want to study in. Transportation costs include public transportation fares, gasoline costs, and car payments. The strategic thing to do is to live nearby the university you attend.
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses might include money spent on food, laundry, leisure activities, and entertainment. Of course, these are all acceptable expenses. College wouldn’t be fun if you just went back and forth from school and home. However, it is important that you know your priorities and keep a budget so you can determine how to spend your extra allowance.
Best Universities by State
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How to Save Money in College
- Apply for scholarships. Both private and public schools offer scholarships and grants. You just have to research to find which ones are available. Filling out the FAFSA can help you get need-based aid. Further, many schools and organizations offer academic scholarships based on merit, ethnicity, hobbies, and sports.
- Schedule when you’ll eat out with friends. Scheduling when you can dine out with friends can help you avoid reckless spending. If you make a budget and only eat out when you plan ahead, you can have fun without overspending.
- Cook your own meals. Meal plans and dining-hall points can be expensive. Home-cooked meals are often healthier and save you money, since you can cook larger quantities and eat leftovers the next day.
- Borrow books. Instead of buying new books, you can borrow them from the library or someone who has already taken the class.
- Apply to work-study programs. Work-study programs are opportunities for students to get part-time jobs on campus or with affiliated businesses. This allows them to earn money to pay for education expenses while studying.
How to Apply for Financial Aid in Illinois
- Check in with your chosen university about accessing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
- Prepare the documents needed to submit the FAFSA. This includes your social security number, your parent’s social security number, and information on your financial situation.
- Once you’ve submitted your FAFSA, you will receive a student aid report (SAR). Carefully review your SAR to make sure it’s accurate. Remember that the information you submit in your FAFSA form will be used to determine your eligibility for financial aid.
- If you are eligible for financial aid, you’ll receive instructions from an aid officer. Ask the aid officer if there are additional steps needed to accept the aid offer.
- Depending on how much aid you’ll be receiving, you can receive the money in one or two payments.
Scholarships for Students in Illinois
| Scholarship Title | Provider | Amount | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Scholarship | Chicago Coalition for the Homeless | $3,500 | Must have experienced homelessness and be attending an accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university |
| DKG Carolyn Wones Scholarship | Community Foundation of Northern Illinois | Varies | Open to women graduating from high school residing in Winnebago or Boone county |
| Sorensen Memorial Engineering Scholarship | Community Foundation of Northern Illinois | Varies | Must be a Winnebago or Boone county resident, have a 3.0 GPA, and be involved in a community service |
| James Hunter Anthony & Gerald E. Blackshear Endowment | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Full tuition | Open to incoming first-year students at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who graduated from an Illinois high school |
| Matthews Scholars | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $2,000 | Open to incoming first-year students |
| Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship | Community Foundation of Northern Illinois | Varies | Must be a graduating high school senior and resident of Boone, Cook, Dekalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, or Winnebago county |
| Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program | Friends of Volo Bog | $1,000 | Open to students pursuing careers in environmental preservation who reside in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will county |
| Palumbo Family Foundation scholarship program | Palumbo Family Foundation | Varies | Open to high school seniors and undergraduates who have a 3.0 GPA and family income of $63,000 or less |
| Lombard Area American Association of University Women Scholarship | American Association of University Women | $5,000 | Open to female students residing in the Lombard Area |
| Peters Foundation Scholarship | Peters Foundation | $2,500 to $5,000 | Open to students at colleges located in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona or Colorado |
How to Choose a Cheap College in Illinois
Choosing a cheap college in Illinois involves checking scholarship opportunities, comparing tuition costs between schools, and checking if they have flexible study options. We’ve included more details how to choose a cheap college in Illinois below. Keeping these points in mind will help you find the cheapest universities in Illinois based on your situation.
Check Scholarship Opportunities
If you’re doing well academically, you should look for colleges that offer merit-based scholarships. These are given to students who demonstrate academic excellence in high school. Scholarships are also offered for excellence in the arts or athletics.
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In addition you can receive a scholarship for meeting community service requirements or belonging to a certain group based on yoru gender, class, or ethnicity. Be sure to find out what scholarships are offered by your community, local businesses, and the universities you’re applying to.
Compare Tuition Between Schools
The easiest step in choosing a cheap college is comparing tuition rates between schools. Find out which schools offer the lowest cost per credit in your chosen field of study. You can also check out each program’s coursework to see which schools cover more topics or specializations without necessarily increasing tuition costs.
Check for Flexible and Hybrid Options
If a school offers online programs, you might be able to choose a hybrid study option or even study entirely online. Online students save money since they don’t have to travel to campus as frequently or live on campus. Some schools also offer discounted tuition rates for online classes.
Best Community Colleges by State
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Highest-Paying Jobs for College Graduates in Illinois
| Job Title | Average Salary in Illinois | Minimum Education |
|---|---|---|
| Surgeon | $297,800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Psychiatrist | $282,240 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Physician | $255,310 | Bachelor’s degree and medical degree |
| Purchasing Manager | $132,960 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Software Engineer | $109,970 | Bachelor’s Degree |
| Data Scientist | $104,010 | Master’s degree |
| Architect | $89,610 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Application Developer | $88,880 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Loan Officer | $79,250 | Bachelor’s degree |
| Real Estate Agent | $60,010 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Best Jobs for College Grads in Illinois: Explained
Accredited Online Colleges by State
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Is a Cheap College in Illinois Worth It?
Yes, a cheap college in Illinois is worth it because you’ll save money without sacrificing the quality of your education. Affordable tuition allows you to spend money on other important priorities or the basic needs of your family. The cheapest colleges in Illinois are some of the best schools in the US and provide academic excellence via state-of-the-art labs, classrooms, and expert faculty members.
Cheapest Colleges in Illinois FAQ
Yes, you should choose a cheap college if you cannot pay high tuition fees upfront and want to avoid financial debt. Cost does not necessarily correspond to quality, and Illinois has many excellent, low-tuition colleges. If you can find the program you want to study at a cheaper school, then the wisest decision is to choose a cheap college.
No, there are no free colleges in Illinois, but you can reduce your tuition burden with scholarships, federal grants, and work-study programs. These financial aid options help you pay for college and can lower your expenses. Some scholarships and grants can even cover your entire tuition bill.
No, it is not hard to get into a cheap college in Illinois. The college with the highest acceptance rate on our list is Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, which accepts 98 percent of applicants. Many cheap schools have high acceptance rates, but keep in mind that admission is not a guarantee of success, and you’ll need to work hard to earn your degree.
You should study in Illinois because it is an affordable state with both big cities, like Chicago, and idyllic nature. Many international students’ studies in Illinois because its location in the middle of the United States is strategic for travel. Illinois also has excellent, nationally ranked colleges like University of Chicago and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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