State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Illinois

Private campuses outnumber public ones on this Illinois list (119 vs 59); Joliet Junior College still leads on average net price at $1,672.

$1,672
Cheapest net price
$15,405
Illinois median
178
Schools ranked

Joliet Junior College has the lowest average net price in Illinois among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Joliet Junior College posts the lowest average net price in Illinois at $1,672 among 178 ranked schools, with the state median 10% below the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price
$1,672
Illinois median
$15,405
Schools ranked
178
National median
$17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Joliet Junior College has the lowest average net price in Illinois at $1,672/year, and the state's median net price is 10% below the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$1,672
cheapest ranked net price
$15,405
Illinois median net price
59 public / 119 private
schools in this ranking
$13,643
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $13,643 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at University of Chicago, where in-state published tuition of $70,662 falls to an average net price of $14,860 after aid, a $55,802 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Illinois schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (119 vs 59). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

The bar to make this top-25 list is $6,375. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 178 Scorecard-reporting Illinois schools:

The bar to make Illinois's top-25 cheapest list

Average net price after aid · 178 Scorecard-reporting schools

$6,375 Among the most affordable more affordable than 86% of 178 Illinois colleges

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 17 Illinois colleges (10%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 31 Illinois colleges (17%). This entry sits in this band. $10,000–$15,000: 41 Illinois colleges (23%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 29 Illinois colleges (16%). Above this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 35 Illinois colleges (20%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 17 Illinois colleges (10%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 5 Illinois colleges (3%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1 Illinois colleges (1%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 Illinois colleges (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 1 Illinois colleges (1%). Above this entry. #25 cutoff $0 $50,000 every ranked Illinois college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more Illinois colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

Illinois's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

1
Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL · Public
Avg net price
$1,672
Net price (<$30K income)
$890
Median debt
$9,711
Median earnings, 6yr
$36,334
Enrollment
14,414
2
Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL · Public
Avg net price
$2,232
Net price (<$30K income)
$191
Median debt
$8,233
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,932
Enrollment
2,720
3
Lake Land College Mattoon, IL · Public
Avg net price
$2,254
Net price (<$30K income)
$979
Median debt
$6,188
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,693
Enrollment
3,960
4
Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL · Public
Avg net price
$2,829
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,710
Median debt
$9,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,943
Enrollment
11,296
6
South Suburban College South Holland, IL · Public
Avg net price
$3,242
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,722
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$27,389
Enrollment
3,818
7
Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL · Public
Avg net price
$3,349
Net price (<$30K income)
$721
Median debt
$6,751
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,365
Enrollment
4,606
8
Spoon River College Canton, IL · Public
Avg net price
$3,415
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,915
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,424
Enrollment
1,247
9
Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, IL · Public
Avg net price
$3,662
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,014
Median debt
$4,909
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,149
Enrollment
1,603
10
Richland Community College Decatur, IL · Public
Avg net price
$3,741
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,303
Median debt
$8,256
Median earnings, 6yr
$32,459
Enrollment
2,388
11
Triton College River Grove, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,138
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,397
Median debt
$9,413
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,001
Enrollment
9,842
12
Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,162
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,792
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$27,902
Enrollment
1,156
13
Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,299
Net price (<$30K income)
$1,079
Median debt
$11,011
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,145
Enrollment
5,677
14
Kishwaukee College Malta, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,574
Net price (<$30K income)
$2,477
Median debt
$9,395
Median earnings, 6yr
$32,532
Enrollment
2,969
15
Kankakee Community College Kankakee, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,665
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,061
Median debt
$9,969
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,835
Enrollment
2,564
16
Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,738
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,546
Median debt
$11,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$30,388
Enrollment
2,953
17
Danville Area Community College Danville, IL · Public
Avg net price
$4,777
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,725
Median debt
$7,218
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,443
Enrollment
2,297
18
Oakton College Des Plaines, IL · Public
Avg net price
$5,183
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,847
Median debt
$5,250
Median earnings, 6yr
$38,528
Enrollment
8,329
19
Morton College Cicero, IL · Public
Avg net price
$5,191
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,006
Median debt
$8,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,053
Enrollment
3,562
20
Rock Valley College Rockford, IL · Public
Avg net price
$5,242
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,409
Median debt
$8,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$34,774
Enrollment
5,978
21
John A Logan College Carterville, IL · Public
Avg net price
$5,541
Net price (<$30K income)
$4,813
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$29,460
Enrollment
3,224
22
Highland Community College Freeport, IL · Public
Avg net price
$5,713
Net price (<$30K income)
$3,598
Median debt
$8,029
Median earnings, 6yr
$33,425
Enrollment
1,360
23
Elgin Community College Elgin, IL · Public
Avg net price
$6,026
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,089
Median debt
$7,390
Median earnings, 6yr
$39,007
Enrollment
10,251
24
Rosel School of Cosmetology Niles, IL · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$6,062
Net price (<$30K income)
$5,782
Median debt
-
Median earnings, 6yr
$16,312
Enrollment
55
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Joliet Junior College Joliet, IL · Public $1,672 97% of the leader · rank #1 $890 $9,711 $36,334 14,414
2 Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, IL · Public $2,232 96% of the leader · rank #2 $191 $8,233 $34,932 2,720
3 Lake Land College Mattoon, IL · Public $2,254 95% of the leader · rank #3 $979 $6,188 $33,693 3,960
4 Moraine Valley Community College Palos Hills, IL · Public $2,829 94% of the leader · rank #4 $2,710 $9,500 $34,943 11,296
5 Trinity International University-Illinois Deerfield, IL · Private nonprofit $2,835 94% of the leader · rank #5 $1,242 $26,082 $41,545 869
6 South Suburban College South Holland, IL · Public $3,242 93% of the leader · rank #6 $2,722 - $27,389 3,818
7 Lewis and Clark Community College Godfrey, IL · Public $3,349 93% of the leader · rank #7 $721 $6,751 $35,365 4,606
8 Spoon River College Canton, IL · Public $3,415 93% of the leader · rank #8 $1,915 - $34,424 1,247
9 Carl Sandburg College Galesburg, IL · Public $3,662 93% of the leader · rank #9 $1,014 $4,909 $31,149 1,603
10 Richland Community College Decatur, IL · Public $3,741 92% of the leader · rank #10 $3,303 $8,256 $32,459 2,388
11 Triton College River Grove, IL · Public $4,138 92% of the leader · rank #11 $2,397 $9,413 $35,001 9,842
12 Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL · Public $4,162 92% of the leader · rank #12 $3,792 - $27,902 1,156
13 Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL · Public $4,299 91% of the leader · rank #13 $1,079 $11,011 $33,145 5,677
14 Kishwaukee College Malta, IL · Public $4,574 91% of the leader · rank #14 $2,477 $9,395 $32,532 2,969
15 Kankakee Community College Kankakee, IL · Public $4,665 91% of the leader · rank #15 $4,061 $9,969 $33,835 2,564
16 Prairie State College Chicago Heights, IL · Public $4,738 90% of the leader · rank #16 $3,546 $11,000 $30,388 2,953
17 Danville Area Community College Danville, IL · Public $4,777 90% of the leader · rank #17 $3,725 $7,218 $34,443 2,297
18 Oakton College Des Plaines, IL · Public $5,183 90% of the leader · rank #18 $3,847 $5,250 $38,528 8,329
19 Morton College Cicero, IL · Public $5,191 90% of the leader · rank #19 $4,006 $8,000 $34,053 3,562
20 Rock Valley College Rockford, IL · Public $5,242 89% of the leader · rank #20 $3,409 $8,500 $34,774 5,978
21 John A Logan College Carterville, IL · Public $5,541 89% of the leader · rank #21 $4,813 - $29,460 3,224
22 Highland Community College Freeport, IL · Public $5,713 89% of the leader · rank #22 $3,598 $8,029 $33,425 1,360
23 Elgin Community College Elgin, IL · Public $6,026 88% of the leader · rank #23 $5,089 $7,390 $39,007 10,251
24 Rosel School of Cosmetology Niles, IL · Private for-profit $6,062 88% of the leader · rank #24 $5,782 - $16,312 55
25 City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College Chicago, IL · Public $6,375 87% of the leader · rank #25 $5,645 $6,500 $33,808 7,798

Showing the 25 cheapest of 178 Scorecard-reporting Illinois schools. The remaining 153 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.

Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.

Related

All 51 states → | Illinois campus safety → | Find your school's rank → | Methodology →

What this means for you

Use Illinois's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

  • Joliet Junior College reports the lowest average net price in Illinois, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Joliet Junior College
  • See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
  • Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Illinois safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Illinois. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.