The Cheapest Colleges in Illinois by Out of State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university in Illinois but aren't a state resident, these are the least expensive out of state colleges to consider. Additionally, if you are a foreign citizen and cannot qualify for in-state tuition, these are the cheapest universities in Illinois for international students.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published out of state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published out of state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in Illinois list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our Illinois tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in Illinois are listed by one year's out of state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in Illinois? Leading the colleges list is University of Phoenix Chicago Campus in Schaumburg with an out of state total cost of $16,616.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | Out of State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 University of Phoenix Chicago CampusSchaumburg, Private For Profit |
$16,616 | NA | NA |
#2 American InterContinental University OnlineHoffman Estates, Private For Profit |
$19,183 | NA | NA |
#3 Chicago State UniversityChicago, Public Not For Profit |
$21,728 | 38 | 72 |
#4 Saint Augustine CollegeChicago, Private Not For Profit |
$21,820 | NA | NA |
#5 Pacific College of Oriental Medicine ChicagoChicago, Private For Profit |
$22,180 | NA | NA |
#6 Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, Public Not For Profit |
$23,033 | 55 | 61 |
#7 Lincoln Christian UniversityLincoln, Private Not For Profit |
$23,310 | NA | NA |
#8 DeVry University IllinoisChicago, Private For Profit |
$23,669 | NA | NA |
#9 Northern Illinois UniversityDekalb, Public Not For Profit |
$24,778 | 57 | 80 |
#10 Midstate CollegePeoria, Private For Profit |
$24,975 | NA | NA |
#11 National Louis UniversityChicago, Private Not For Profit |
$25,005 | NA | NA |
#12 Western Illinois UniversityMacomb, Public Not For Profit |
$25,061 | 53 | 61 |
#13 Eastern Illinois UniversityCharleston, Public Not For Profit |
$25,628 | 46 | 51 |
#14 Southern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondale, Public Not For Profit |
$26,962 | 59 | 81 |
#15 Moody Bible InstituteChicago, Private Not For Profit |
$27,367 | NA | NA |
#16 Lincoln CollegeLincoln, Private Not For Profit |
$28,200 | 28 | 15 |
#17 Telshe Yeshiva ChicagoChicago, Private Not For Profit |
$28,790 | NA | NA |
#18 Hebrew Theological CollegeSkokie, Private Not For Profit |
$28,968 | NA | NA |
#19 The Illinois Institute of Art SchaumburgSchaumburg, Private For Profit |
$30,157 | NA | NA |
#20 East West UniversityChicago, Private Not For Profit |
$31,671 | NA | NA |