College Costs in Illinois

The 2025 Directory of Illinois Colleges and Prices

Illinois Colleges, Cost and Affordability for 2025

How much does it cost to attend college in Illinois?   The average annual in-state college tuition in Illinois was $19,219 for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is $3,589 higher than the U.S. average and ranks Illinois amongst the costliest as the 11th most expensive state or district to attend college. This is a change of $238 from the 2019-2020 average of $18,981 and represents a 1.25% annual increase in tuition costs. The list of Illinois colleges below provides school specific cost and value rating.

This analysis surveyed tuition data from the 132 colleges and universities in Illinois, the most popular being University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with 47,118 full time students and an in-state tuition list price of $12,712. Northwestern University is the most expensive in Illinois with an in-state tuition of $64,887.

All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2023 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Illinois Public Private For-Profit 4 year 2 year

132 results

University of Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

University of Chicago

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

$63,801 Tuition

#8 Best Colleges in America

  • 18,339enrollment
  • $27,979net price
  • 5%acceptance rate
  • 1510-1570SAT range
  • 34-35ACT range
  • 3.95Estimated Avg GPA

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Northwestern University
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N
Evanston, IL

Northwestern University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$64,887 Tuition

#16 Best Colleges in America

  • 23,203enrollment
  • $23,341net price
  • 7%acceptance rate
  • 1490-1560SAT range
  • 33-35ACT range
  • 3.92Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 1

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University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
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I
Champaign, IL

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

$12,712 Tuition

#21 Best Public Universities in America

  • 56,563enrollment
  • $14,297net price
  • 44%acceptance rate
  • 1270-1510SAT range
  • 29-34ACT range
  • 3.79Estimated Avg GPA

Applications Due Jan 5

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University of Illinois at Chicago
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I
Chicago, IL

University of Illinois at Chicago

Public 4 Year

2 reviews

$11,178 Tuition

#2 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 33,522enrollment
  • $11,499net price
  • 79%acceptance rate
  • 1120-1340SAT range
  • 25-32ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Loyola University Chicago
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L
Chicago, IL

Loyola University Chicago

Private 4 Year

6 reviews

$50,270 Tuition

#6 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 17,397enrollment
  • $37,592net price
  • 81%acceptance rate
  • 1160-1340SAT range
  • 27-31ACT range
  • 3.71Avg GPA

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DePaul University
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D
Chicago, IL

DePaul University

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

$43,665 Tuition

#7 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 21,348enrollment
  • $32,129net price
  • 74%acceptance rate
  • 1130-1340SAT range
  • 26-31ACT range
  • 3.8Avg GPA

Applications Due Feb 1

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Illinois State University
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I
Normal, IL

Illinois State University

Public 4 Year

4 reviews

$12,066 Tuition

#6 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 20,989enrollment
  • $20,871net price
  • 89%acceptance rate
  • 1010-1230SAT range
  • 22-27ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Apr 1

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Northern Illinois University
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N
Dekalb, IL

Northern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

5 reviews

$9,790 Tuition

#4 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 15,504enrollment
  • $13,533net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 940-1170SAT range
  • 19-25ACT range
  • 3.3Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Wheaton College
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W
Wheaton, IL

Wheaton College

Private 4 Year

3 reviews

$43,670 Tuition

#3 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 2,799enrollment
  • $31,346net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 1260-1440SAT range
  • 27-32ACT range
  • 3.75Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Southern Illinois University Carbondale
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S
Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$9,638 Tuition

#5 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 11,359enrollment
  • $16,131net price
  • 90%acceptance rate
  • 910-1140SAT range
  • 20-27ACT range
  • 3.24Avg GPA

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Bradley University
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B
Peoria, IL

Bradley University

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$39,248 Tuition

#5 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,217enrollment
  • $24,703net price
  • 77%acceptance rate
  • 1090-1300SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.83Avg GPA

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College of DuPage
D
Glen Ellyn, IL

College of DuPage

Public 2 Year

0 reviews

$9,510 Tuition

 

  • 23,216enrollment
  • $5,397net price
  • 100%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • NAAvg GPA

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Chicago State University
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C
Chicago, IL

Chicago State University

Public 4 Year

0 reviews

$8,040 Tuition

#11 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 2,324enrollment
  • $9,852net price
  • 41%acceptance rate
  • 750-963SAT range
  • 15-19ACT range
  • 3.18Avg GPA

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Northeastern Illinois University
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N
Chicago, IL

Northeastern Illinois University

Public 4 Year

1 reviews

$10,343 Tuition

#10 Best Public Universities in Illinois

  • 5,504enrollment
  • $14,669net price
  • 70%acceptance rate
  • 810-1010SAT range
  • 15-21ACT range
  • 3.1Avg GPA

Applications Due Jul 15

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Columbia College Chicago
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C
Chicago, IL

Columbia College Chicago

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$30,734 Tuition

 

  • 6,529enrollment
  • $29,790net price
  • 91%acceptance rate
  • -SAT range
  • -ACT range
  • 3.41Avg GPA

Applications Due Aug 1

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Illinois Institute of Technology
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I
Chicago, IL

Illinois Institute of Technology

Private 4 Year

1 reviews

$49,643 Tuition

#8 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 8,563enrollment
  • $25,001net price
  • 55%acceptance rate
  • 1180-1410SAT range
  • 25-31ACT range
  • 3.84Avg GPA

Applications Due Mar 1

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Lewis University
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L
Romeoville, IL
 

Lewis University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$37,592 Tuition

#14 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 6,636enrollment
  • $19,472net price
  • 73%acceptance rate
  • 990-1220SAT range
  • 22-26ACT range
  • 3.6Avg GPA

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Aurora University
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A
Aurora, IL

Aurora University

Private 4 Year

0 reviews

$28,000 Tuition

#30 Best Private Colleges in Illinois

  • 5,935enrollment
  • $19,220net price
  • 85%acceptance rate
  • 930-1133SAT range
  • 20-26ACT range
  • 3.56Avg GPA

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