2023 Best Value Schools in Illinois
Identifying High-Quality Schools With More Affordable Pricing
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school or bootcamp that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.
To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Course Advisor has created its Best Value Schools in Illinois ranking. This report analyzed 78 schools in Illinois to see which ones offered the best value programs for students. The goal was to highlight schools with more affordable prices than others offering similar quality experiences.
When determining this ranking, we place a high emphasis on the school's quality as well as its sticker price. Even though a college may be affordable, it may not offer value. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.
Our calculations use out-of-state tuition and fees in our nationwide and regional rankings. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.
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Top Value Schools in Illinois
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Lincoln Land Community College the best value school in Illinois for students working on their degree. Located in Springfield, Illinois, the small public school awarded 1,520 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at LLCC are $10,068 a year. On average, students take out $13,579 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, LLCC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,692 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at Elgin Community College helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Illinois. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,154 degrees in 2020-2021.
ECC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,516 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $14,212 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from ECC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $39,352 during the early years of their career.
A rank of #3 on this year’s list means Southwestern Illinois College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. SWIC is a public institution located in Belleville, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,363 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SWIC are $5,940 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,518 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, SWIC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,934 during the early year of their career.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Black Hawk College is a great place for students who want to get the most value for their educational dollar. Moline, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 920 students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at BHC are $7,650 a year. On average, students take out $14,141 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, BHC graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $38,746 during the early year of their career.
The excellent programs at William Rainey Harper College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best value schools in Illinois. William Rainey Harper College is a fairly large public school located in Palatine, Illinois that handed out 4,517 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Harper College are $11,682 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $15,850 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Harper College graduates make an average of $43,420 annually.
In addition to its great value ranking, Harper College is in the top 15% of all schools on our Best Schools in Illinois list.
John A Logan College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Illinois list. John A Logan College is a public institution located in Carterville, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 698 degrees in 2020-2021.
John A Logan College undergraduate students pay an average of $6,980 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,763 in student loans. During the early years of their career, John A Logan College graduates make an average of $42,518 annually.
Rend Lake College ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Illinois list. Rend Lake College is a small public school situated in Ina, Illinois. It awarded 1,141 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rend Lake College are $6,750 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,058 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Rend Lake College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,704 during the early year of their career.
Waubonsee Community College ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Illinois list. Waubonsee is a public institution located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,602 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Waubonsee are $10,076 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,413 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Waubonsee graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $34,527 during the early year of their career.
Kaskaskia College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #9 on the list. Located in Centralia, Illinois, the small public school awarded 937 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Kaskaskia College are $12,330 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $9,217 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Kaskaskia College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $35,724 during the early year of their career.
College of Lake County landed the #10 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Grayslake, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 3,676 degrees in 2020-2021.
College of Lake County undergraduate students pay an average of $12,824 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,341 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, College of Lake County graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $53,083 during the early year of their career.
Rock Valley College landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in Rockford, Illinois, the medium-sized public school awarded 1,460 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Rock Valley College are $17,564 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,314 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, Rock Valley College graduates make an average of $41,063 annually.
Moraine Valley Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #12 on the list. Palos Hills, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 3,339 students in 2020-2021.
MVCC undergraduate students pay an average of $9,334 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $15,006 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from MVCC, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $35,287 during the early years of their career.
Carl Sandburg College ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Illinois list. Located in Galesburg, Illinois, the small public school awarded 759 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Carl Sandburg College are $8,760 a year. On average, students take out $9,267 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Carl Sandburg College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $39,200 during the early year of their career.
Concordia University, Chicago landed the #14 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Located in River Forest, Illinois, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,010 diplomas to qualifed students in 2020-2021.
Concordia University, Chicago undergraduate students pay an average of $34,310 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $26,522 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Concordia University, Chicago, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $53,770 during the early years of their career.
Illinois State University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, the large public school handed out 5,907 degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois State undergraduate students pay an average of $24,172 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $21,109 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $312. During the early years of their career, Illinois State graduates make an average of $44,092 annually.
Illinois State also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Illinois list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category.
John Wood Community College landed the #16 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. John Wood Community College is a small public school located in Quincy, Illinois that handed out 547 degrees in 2020-2021.
John Wood Community College undergraduate students pay an average of $8,190 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $12,040 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from John Wood Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $32,078 during the early years of their career.
Oakton Community College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Illinois ranking. Oakton Community College is a medium-sized public school located in Des Plaines, Illinois that handed out 1,682 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Oakton Community College are $12,462 per year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,638 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from Oakton Community College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $42,340 during the early years of their career.
Rasmussen University - Illinois did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #18 on the list. Rasmussen University - Illinois is a private for-profit institution located in Rockford, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,107 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Rasmussen University - Illinois are $13,883 per year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $30,604 in student loans. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $127, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. Once they receive their degree, Rasmussen University - Illinois graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $41,940 during the early year of their career.
Rasmussen University - Illinois did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Schools in Illinois list.
Lake Land College landed the #19 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. This small public school is located in Mattoon, Illinois, and it awarded 1,529 degrees in 2020-2021.
Out-of-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Lake Land College are $13,906 per year. On average, students take out $10,683 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Lake Land College, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $33,991 during the early years of their career.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best value places for students. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, the fairly large public school handed out 3,247 degrees in 2020-2021.
SIUE undergraduate students pay an average of $11,496 in tuition and fees each year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $24,579 in student loans. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $221.After graduating from SIUE, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,746 during the early years of their career.
Read full report on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Eastern Illinois University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Charleston, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 1,884 students in 2020-2021.
EIU undergraduate students pay an average of $14,551 in tuition and fees each year. On average, students take out $23,733 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $178.After graduating from EIU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $38,688 during the early years of their career.
Heartland Community College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Illinois ranking. Located in Normal, Illinois, the small public school handed out 1,191 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at Heartland Community College are $14,550 a year. By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,312 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Heartland Community College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $33,516 during the early year of their career.
Western Illinois University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Schools in Illinois list. WIU is a public institution located in Macomb, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,171 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at WIU are $13,297 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,617 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $266, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, WIU graduates make an average of $38,708 annually.
Illinois Central College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Schools in Illinois ranking. Illinois Central College is a medium-sized public school located in East Peoria, Illinois that handed out 1,297 degrees in 2020-2021.
The average tuition and fees for an out-of-state undergraduate students at ICC are $11,497 a year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $13,849 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, ICC graduates make an average of $36,732 annually.
Governors State University landed the #24 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value programs. Governors State University is a small public school located in University Park, Illinois that handed out 1,247 degrees in 2020-2021.
GSU undergraduate students pay an average of $17,620 in tuition and fees each year. Degree recipients from the school accumulate an average of $28,123 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.After graduating from GSU, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $44,233 during the early years of their career.
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- 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 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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