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Cheapest Colleges in Illinois 2026

Trinity International University-Illinois leads this list with an average net price of $2,835 per year. EduGradify shows 25 colleges here after checking federal net-price and earnings data.

The lowest-net-price colleges in Illinois that report federal earnings.

Schools ranked
25
Cheapest net price
$2,835
Top earnings 10y
$68,740
Public / Private
18 / 5

How we picked this list

This list starts with Illinois colleges, removes schools without usable net-price data, then sorts from lowest average net price upward. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 14.53 (18 public, 5 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

Related lists

All EduGradify rankings → All Illinois colleges → Highest ROI colleges nationwide →Cheapest US colleges →Best public colleges by ROI →Best private colleges by ROI →Best Illinois colleges by ROI →

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Trinity International University-Illinois in Deerfield, IL tops this ranking. Average net price is $2,835 per year.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by net price/yr using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Illinois colleges are in this list?

74 Illinois colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.