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Cheapest Engineering Colleges in Illinois

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

Northwestern University charges $27,143 net price for engineering students while Western Illinois University costs just $11,592, creating a $15,551 gap between the state's most and least expensive programs. This price difference becomes more striking when considering that Northwestern's 95.90% graduation rate far exceeds Western Illinois's 44.80% rate. Illinois engineering graduates earn between $63,997 and $72,727 annually, reflecting strong demand in the state's finance and manufacturing sectors centered around Chicago. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers middle-ground pricing at $15,201 net cost while delivering the highest graduate earnings at $72,727.
10
Programs
$11,592 – $27,143
Net Price Range
$67,238
Avg. Program Earnings
65.0%
Avg. Graduation Rate

10 Engineering, General Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $11,592 $14,952 44.8% 75.0%
2 $12,909 $12,700 49.6% 70.7%
3 $15,201 $16,004 84.9% 44.8%
4 $18,034 $43,520 60.1% 90.7%
5 $18,992 $28,220 58.3% 81.9%
6 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
7 $21,270 $30,598 51.4% 94.1%
8 $21,539 $37,940 60.3% 57.8%
9 $23,572 $39,680 72.1% 75.1%
10 $27,143 $65,997 95.9% 7.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes such large price differences between Illinois engineering programs?

Public universities like Western Illinois ($11,592) and Northern Illinois ($12,909) receive state funding that keeps costs low. Private institutions like Northwestern ($27,143) and Illinois Institute of Technology ($19,353) rely on tuition revenue and typically offer more resources per student.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Illinois?

Higher-priced programs generally show better completion rates, with Northwestern at 95.90% and Bradley University at 72.10%. However, Western Illinois achieves only 44.80% graduation despite its $11,592 affordability, while Northern Illinois reaches 49.60% at similar cost.

Does the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign justify its middle pricing tier?

At $15,201 net cost, UIUC delivers the highest graduate earnings at $72,727 and maintains an 84.90% graduation rate. The 44.82% acceptance rate indicates selectivity that contributes to strong outcomes for engineering students.

Where do Illinois engineering graduates typically find employment opportunities?

Chicago's finance sector and Illinois manufacturing companies provide primary job markets for engineering graduates. The state's central location and transportation infrastructure also create opportunities in logistics and industrial engineering roles throughout the region.

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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.