Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois

Find Schools Near

2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois

Highlighting Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing

24 Colleges
$31,709 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$38,297 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Social Sciences School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, social sciences was ranked 9th in Illinois. In fact, 5,866 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.

It's not easy to decide which program to enroll in when you have so many options available. As online education oppotunities continue to grow, you're not restricted to just schools in your local area anymore. Even some of the 'big name' schools are offering online courses. Also, there are a number of trade schools with offerings that you might find attractive.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 24 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best value programs for social sciences students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. Specifically, our score for quality is discounted by the published tuition and fees charged by the given college. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The more quality your dollar buys, the better the value.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. For statewide rankings, we use average in-state tuition and fees.

2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for social sciences majors pursuing a .

Top 10 Best Social Sciences Schools

$13,968 Average Tuition & Fees

Our 2023 rankings named Illinois State University the best value school in Illinois for social sciences students. Located in the medium-sized suburb of Normal, Illinois State is a public school with a very large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Illinois State are $13,968 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from Illinois State take out $23,378 in student loans while working on their degree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $271.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Illinois State also is in the top 10% of our Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois ranking.

Full Social Sciences at Illinois State University Report

$11,496 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois list. Located in the large suburb of Edwardsville, SIUE is a public school with a fairly large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SIUE are $11,496 per year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at SIUE take out is $26,161.

Full Social Sciences at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Report

$12,053 Average Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of Illinois at Springfield. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Value Social Sciences Schools in Illinois list. Located in the city of Springfield, UIS is a public school with a small student population.

UIS undergraduate students pay an average of $12,053 in in-state tuition and fees each year. After completing their degree, social sciences graduates from UIS carry an average student debtload of $27,000.

Full Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Springfield Report

$13,297 Average Tuition & Fees

The excellent programs at Western Illinois University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best social sciences schools in Illinois. WIU is a medium-sized public school located in the remote town of Macomb.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 per year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at WIU accumulate an average of around $32,566 in student debt.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Western Illinois University

$17,634 Average Tuition & Fees

Out of the 24 schools in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the # 5 spot on the list. UIUC is a very large public school located in the small city of Champaign.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at UIUC are $17,634 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from UIUC take out $20,188 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $337, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

UIUC also made our Best Social Sciences Schools in Illinois list, coming in at #3.

Full Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Report

$15,240 Average Tuition & Fees

Southern Illinois University Carbondale landed the #6 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value social sciences programs. Located in the small city of Carbondale, SIUC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at SIUC are $15,240 a year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at SIUC accumulate an average of around $24,349 in student debt. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $161, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read More…

#7

Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, IL
$12,297 Average Tuition & Fees

Eastern Illinois University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value schools for social sciences students. It came in at #7 on the list. EIU is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Charleston.

EIU undergraduate students pay an average of $12,297 in in-state tuition and fees each year. The average amount in student loans that social sciences majors at EIU take out is $25,622. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $129.

Full Social Sciences at Eastern Illinois University Report

$14,738 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #8, Northern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social sciences students. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, NIU is a public school with a fairly large student population.

NIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,738 in in-state tuition and fees each year. While working on their degree, social sciences majors at NIU accumulate an average of around $25,451 in student debt. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $233.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Northern Illinois University

$12,064 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #9, Northeastern Illinois University did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social sciences students. Located in the large city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at Northeastern Illinois University are $12,064 a year. On average, social sciences graduates from Northeastern Illinois University take out $16,605 in student loans while working on their degree.

Read full report on Social Sciences at Northeastern Illinois University

$15,603 Average Tuition & Fees

With a ranking of #10, University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well on this year’s best value schools for social sciences students. Located in the city of Chicago, UIC is a public school with a very large student population.

UIC undergraduate students pay an average of $15,603 in in-state tuition and fees each year. On average, social sciences graduates from UIC take out $21,305 in student loans while working on their degree. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $185, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Full Social Sciences at University of Illinois at Chicago Report

Best Value Social Sciences Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Value Social Sciences Schools in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Indiana 2,941
Michigan 4,213
Ohio 4,915
Wisconsin 3,504

Social Sciences Majors to Study

Major Annual Graduates
Political Science & Government 49,282
Economics 49,055
Sociology 38,475
General Social Sciences 18,997
International Relations & National Security 14,306
Anthropology 11,415
Criminology 11,039
Geography & Cartography 8,526
Other Social Sciences 2,414
Urban Studies 1,507
Sociology & Anthropology 541
Archeology 339
Demography & Population Studies 88

Related Major Annual Graduates
Education 327,871
Psychology 195,678
Communication & Journalism 120,571
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences 55,820
History 32,731

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 24 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to AndrГ© KГјnzelmann.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited colleges across the U.S.