Illinois has 7 of the ‘best value’ small colleges and universities, report finds
Illinois is home to seven of the “best value” small colleges and universities in the U.S., according to a recent report, and one is outside Chicagoland.
In an April 27 report, “America’s Best Value Small Colleges and Universities — 2026 Study,” financial company SmartAsset named the University of Illinois Springfield No. 50, and six Chicago-area colleges also made the cut.
To compare the institutions, SmartAsset evaluated average cost of attendance, graduation rates and median earnings of students 10 years after first enrollment. Each institution has an undergraduate enrollment of 5,000 or fewer.
“Some students are drawn to small colleges and universities for the personalized attention and sense of community they can offer compared to larger schools,” SmartAsset’s analysis reads. “Although attending such institutions could come with a higher price tag than larger colleges and universities, many affordable, high-quality options are available.”
SmartAsset found the University of Illinois Springfield has an average annual cost of attendance of $25,521, with a 57% graduation rate and median earnings of $57,103.
“UIS is proud to be named one of the best value small universities in the nation. This recognition reflects our commitment to providing an affordable, high-quality education through an engaging and individualized learning experience with leadership development at its core. Through initiatives like the Prairie Promise program, which guarantees full coverage of tuition and fees for qualified first-time, first-year undergraduate students from Illinois and now includes eligible transfer students, UIS continues to remove financial barriers and expand access to a UIS degree,” Blake Wood, UIS director of media strategy, wrote in an emailed statement to the News-Democrat.
- Dominican University, a private institution in River Forest, was the top-performing Illinois school with a 38th-place ranking. SmartAsset reported Dominican University’s average cost of attendance is $43,891, with a 58.8% graduation rate and median earnings of $60,327.
- Aurora University landed in 42nd place, with a cost of attendance of $40,625, a 59.3% graduation rate and median earnings of $58,709. The university was also recently recognized by U.S. News & World report as having one of the most “beautiful college campuses” in the nation.
- Chicago’s North Park University landed in 43rd, with nearby Saint Xavier University closely following in 44th. SmartAsset found North Park University had a cost of attendance of $44,172, a 56.9% graduation rate and median earnings of $59,572. Saint Xavier’s cost of attendance was reported at $43,244, with a 57.7% graduation rate and median earnings of $58,656.
- Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights was ranked 45th, with a cost of attendance of $35,012, a 61% graduation rate and median earnings of $55,700.
- Elgin’s Judson University was ranked 56th, with a cost of attendance of $43,137, a 56.4% graduation rate and median earnings of $56,313.
Top 15 best value small colleges in US
Here are the top 10 best value small colleges and universities in the country, according to SmartAsset:
1. Immaculata University in Immaculata, Pa.
2. Rutgers University-Camden in Camden, N.J.
3. University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit
4. SUNY College at Geneseo in Geneseo, N.Y.
5. Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa.
6. Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, N.J.
7. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro, N.M.
8. Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, Calif.
9. Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Md.
10. Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.
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