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Best Value Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges in Illinois

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

University of Illinois Springfield delivers one of the strongest returns on investment for liberal arts students in Illinois, combining a low net cost of $8,916 with post-graduation earnings of $38,289. This stark contrast with DePaul University, where students pay $29,141 net but earn $59,756, highlights how dramatically value calculations shift across the state's 20 programs. The earnings gap between the lowest performer at $27,280 and highest at $59,756 reflects the varied pathways liberal arts graduates take in Illinois's economy. Chicago's financial sector, state government positions in Springfield, and the state's manufacturing base create multiple career tracks for humanities graduates. While some programs struggle with graduation rates as low as 16.8%, others like University of Chicago achieve 94.9% completion rates. The MAP Grant program helps bridge affordability gaps for students choosing between public options with lower costs and private institutions with potentially higher earning outcomes.
48
Programs
$8,837 – $35,196
Net Price Range
$34,914
Avg. Program Earnings
56.8%
Avg. Graduation Rate

48 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price Program Earnings In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $8,916 $38,289 $12,252 61.4% 82.0%
2 $9,477 $32,498 $11,320 19.6% 57.5%
3 $10,133 $32,391 $12,754 16.9% 48.5%
4 $11,592 $32,658 $14,952 44.8% 75.0%
5 $12,909 $33,565 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
6 $13,550 $33,604 $12,383 16.8% 62.7%
7 $12,093 $29,685 $36,840 59.0% 84.1%
8 $20,152 $47,327 $20,280 41.0% 88.3%
9 $14,093 $32,634 $13,403 45.2% 68.0%
10 $29,141 $59,756 $44,460 70.0% 70.2%
11 $17,324 $33,993 $35,740 42.7% 61.7%
12 $21,814 $40,456 $26,758 52.4% 64.4%
13 $16,177 $27,280 $13,244 56.3% 91.5%
14 $18,370 $28,309 $37,882 62.6% 74.1%
15 $18,967 $28,960 $66,939 94.9% 5.4%
16 $18,996 $27,222 $16,021 66.3% 86.2%
17 $15,113 $37,844 62.4% 89.5%
18 $18,191 $35,325 56.0% 68.0%
19 $22,048 $28,400 40.6% 86.7%
20 $27,143 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%
21 $21,063 $41,628 65.2% 76.0%
22 $21,539 $37,940 60.3% 57.8%
23 $21,055 $26,100 23.0%
24 $23,066 $37,300 38.3% 54.9%
25 $16,774 $36,258 47.4% 93.0%
26 $23,033 $44,394 71.1% 60.9%
27 $16,284 $37,000 64.6% 58.4%
28 $26,788 $32,520 48.5% 94.8%
29 $23,572 $39,680 72.1% 75.1%
30 $13,696 $12,922 55.0% 97.5%
31 $21,386 $12,320 45.7% 91.3%
32 $18,992 $28,220 58.3% 81.9%
33 $21,270 $30,598 51.4% 94.1%
34 $16,157 $12,345 36.9% 92.1%
35 $18,034 $43,520 60.1% 90.7%
36 $8,837 $26,892 59.1% 75.4%
37 $24,190 $34,070 59.5% 68.4%
38 $35,196 $51,716 76.9% 79.2%
39 $17,610 $15,400 58.2%
40 $12,437 $49,834 79.2% 61.2%
41 $27,499 $54,202 70.4% 59.7%
42 $24,875 $55,587 67.5% 73.3%
43 $25,027 $30,910 53.3% 58.2%
44 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
45 $29,550 $55,704 82.5% 42.2%
46 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
47 $23,529 $34,290 51.0% 93.1%
48 $12,313 $14,338 60.3% 78.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the huge difference between the lowest and highest earnings for liberal arts graduates in Illinois?

DePaul University graduates earn $59,756 compared to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's $27,280, a gap of over $32,000 annually. Location plays a major role, with Chicago-area schools typically producing higher-earning graduates due to proximity to financial services and corporate headquarters. The type of liberal arts focus also matters, as programs emphasizing business communication or digital humanities often lead to better-paying entry-level positions than traditional literature or philosophy tracks.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Illinois liberal arts programs?

The most expensive program, DePaul at $29,141 net cost, achieves a 70% graduation rate, while some lower-cost options struggle significantly. Chicago State University costs just $10,133 but graduates only 16.9% of students within six years. However, University of Illinois Springfield breaks this pattern with both low costs ($8,916) and solid completion rates (61.4%), proving that affordability doesn't always mean lower success rates.

Is the University of Chicago worth considering despite its 5.43% acceptance rate?

University of Chicago accepts fewer than 6 students per 100 applicants but maintains a 94.9% graduation rate, the highest among Illinois liberal arts programs. The school's net cost of $18,967 falls in the middle range, making it more affordable than DePaul after financial aid. However, the $28,960 average earnings figure may reflect graduates pursuing advanced degrees or nonprofit work rather than immediate career earning potential.

Does student debt burden vary significantly between public and private liberal arts programs in Illinois?

Private institutions show more variation in debt loads, with Saint Xavier graduates carrying $26,000 compared to DePaul's $37,499. Public universities generally keep debt lower, with Northern Illinois and Western Illinois both averaging $25,000. Northeastern Illinois University stands out with just $12,500 in average debt, though this correlates with a concerning 16.8% graduation rate.

Where do liberal arts graduates find the best job opportunities within Illinois?

Chicago-area programs consistently produce higher-earning graduates, reflecting the city's concentration of media companies, financial firms, and cultural institutions that value liberal arts skills. State government positions in Springfield provide stable career paths for political science and public administration concentrations. Manufacturing companies throughout Illinois increasingly seek liberal arts graduates for communication, training, and management roles, with starting salaries typically ranging from $28,000 to $35,000.

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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.