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Best Value Finance and Financial Management Services Colleges in Illinois

Ranked by best return on investment (earnings vs. cost). See our methodology.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduates earn $71,935 annually while paying just $15,201 in net costs, creating one of the most favorable return-on-investment ratios for finance students in the Midwest. This gap becomes even more striking when compared to Western Illinois University, where net costs drop to $11,592 but earnings settle at $41,937. Chicago's position as the nation's third-largest city and home to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange creates strong demand for finance professionals, with major employers like Northern Trust, CME Group, and Citadel Securities recruiting heavily from state programs. The 20 Illinois programs show remarkable cost variation, spanning from $11,592 to $29,141 in net price, while graduation rates range from 16.8% at Northeastern Illinois to 84.9% at UIUC. Public universities dominate the value equation here, with five of the six lowest-cost options being state schools that benefit from Illinois MAP Grant funding.
30
Programs
$8,837 – $35,196
Net Price Range
$49,495
Avg. Program Earnings
59.4%
Avg. Graduation Rate

30 Finance and Financial Management Services Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $15,201 $71,935 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
2 $12,313 $50,132 $14,338 60.3% 78.7%
3 $12,909 $51,145 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
4 $12,093 $44,170 $36,840 59.0% 84.1%
5 $11,592 $41,937 $14,952 44.8% 75.0%
6 $13,550 $46,407 $12,383 16.8% 62.7%
7 $14,093 $46,673 $13,403 45.2% 68.0%
8 $16,177 $47,260 $13,244 56.3% 91.5%
9 $18,470 $52,107 $13,546 40.0%
10 $18,996 $52,781 $16,021 66.3% 86.2%
11 $18,370 $49,527 $37,882 62.6% 74.1%
12 $21,063 $54,209 $41,628 65.2% 76.0%
13 $18,992 $48,682 $28,220 58.3% 81.9%
14 $20,152 $48,563 $20,280 41.0% 88.3%
15 $23,572 $52,420 $39,680 72.1% 75.1%
16 $17,324 $38,289 $35,740 42.7% 61.7%
17 $17,945 $38,289 $37,470 61.1% 77.2%
18 $23,033 $46,478 $44,394 71.1% 60.9%
19 $23,529 $46,087 $34,290 51.0% 93.1%
20 $29,141 $56,924 $44,460 70.0% 70.2%
21 $29,550 $53,358 $55,704 82.5% 42.2%
22 $27,499 $44,468 $54,202 70.4% 59.7%
23 $35,196 $56,544 $51,716 76.9% 79.2%
24 $18,191 $35,325 56.0% 68.0%
25 $8,837 $26,892 59.1% 75.4%
26 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
27 $16,284 $37,000 64.6% 58.4%
28 $16,774 $36,258 47.4% 93.0%
29 $16,381 $20,325 63.9% 70.7%
30 $12,437 $49,834 79.2% 61.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign such strong value for finance students?

UIUC graduates earn $71,935 annually while facing net costs of just $15,201, creating a 4.7-to-1 earnings-to-cost ratio that outpaces most peer institutions. The program maintains an 84.9% graduation rate with moderate debt loads of $19,500. Despite a competitive 44.8% acceptance rate, students gain access to extensive Chicago financial sector recruiting networks.

How do public versus private costs compare for Illinois finance programs?

Public universities average around $14,000 in net costs compared to private schools ranging from $18,000 to $23,500. However, Saint Xavier University breaks this pattern at $12,093 net cost despite a $36,840 sticker price. The MAP Grant system helps bridge affordability gaps, particularly benefiting students at state institutions like Western Illinois University where net costs hit just $11,592.

Is graduation rate a concern at some Illinois finance programs?

Northeastern Illinois University shows a concerning 16.8% graduation rate despite reasonable costs and $46,407 average earnings. Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois hover around 45% graduation rates, while Roosevelt University manages only 41% completion. These rates contrast sharply with UIUC's 84.9% and Bradley University's 72.1% success rates.

Does location within Illinois affect finance career prospects significantly?

Chicago-area programs benefit from proximity to major financial employers, but this advantage doesn't always translate to higher earnings. University of Illinois Chicago graduates earn $50,132 despite the location, while downstate UIUC produces the highest earners at $71,935. Even smaller cities like Normal and Carbondale show solid earning potential around $47,000 to $53,000 annually.

Where can students find the lowest debt loads among Illinois finance programs?

Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry just $11,875 in average debt, the lowest among reporting schools. Northern Illinois and Eastern Illinois keep debt under $16,000, while University of Illinois Chicago maintains $15,000 average loads. These figures compare favorably to Western Illinois University's $26,250 debt burden despite its rock-bottom net costs.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.