2025 Average Tuition, Fees, and Living cost in Illinois Colleges

The average tuition & fees of Illinois colleges is $10,751 for Illinois residents and $13,509 for students from other States.

University of Chicago has the highest (most expensive) tuition & fees of $69,324 and Pacific College of Health and Science has the lowest tuition & fees (cheapest) of $7,508.

For graduate programs, University of Chicago has the highest (most expensive) graduate tuition & fees of $69,324 and Columbia College Chicago has the lowest graduate tuition & fees (cheapest) of $34,088 in Illinois.

2025 cost of Attendance (COA)

The average COA of Illinois 4-year colleges in 2025 is $31,581 for Illinois residents and $37,410 for students from other states. The COA includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other living expenses, but it excludes health insurance fee and uncommon expenses.

Table. 2025 Average cost of Attendance for Illinois Colleges (4-Years)
UndergraduateGraduate
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees $13,730$19,559 $12,419$18,955
Books & Supplies$1,210$1,210
Room & Board$16,641$16,641
COA$31,581$37,410$30,270$36,806

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In Illinois, 208 schools offer undergraduate programs. The average undergraduate tuition & fees of Illinois colleges is $10,751 for Illinois residents and $13,509 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025.

The Illinois tuition & fees have risen 3.00% from last year (4 years colleges).

The following table and chart describe the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees trends over last 5 years in 4-years and 2-4 years (community colleges) colleges.

You may want to compare Illinois schools with tuition changes from last year at Illinois colleges tuition change page.

2025 Average Undergraduate Tuition & Fees for Illinois Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
4 Years or High2-4 Years4 Years or High2-4 Years
In-StateOut-of-StateIn-StateOut-of-State
2021 $13,073$18,860 $9,146$11,580 $29,169$13,998
2022 $13,309$19,278 $9,399$11,934 $29,442$13,910
2023 $13,340$19,371 $9,558$12,071 $30,164$14,639
2024 $13,493$18,989 $9,668$12,224 $30,575$15,346
2025 $13,730$19,559 $9,865$11,900 $32,265$15,911

Expensive Illinois Colleges (Highest Undergraduate Tuition)

University of Chicago$69,324
Northwestern University$68,322
Knox College$57,903
Illinois Wesleyan University$57,704
Lake Forest College$56,402

Inexpensive Illinois Colleges (Lowest Undergraduate Tuition)

Pacific College of Health and Science$7,508
American Islamic College$7,650
Columbia College - Freeport$8,256
Columbia College - Elgin$8,256
Columbia College - Crystal Lake Campus$8,304
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Graduate Program Tuition & Fees

80 Illinois colleges offer graduate programs. The average graduate program tuition fees of Illinois colleges is $12,419 for Illinois residents and $18,955 for students from other States. The graduate tuition & fees rose 101.16% from last year.

The following table and chart describe the 2025 graduate tuition & fees and show last 5 years' tuition change.

2025 Average Graduate Tuition & Fees for Illinois Universities and Colleges
Public SchoolsPrivate Schools
In-StateOut-of-State
2021 $11,772$18,148$20,314
2022 $11,929$18,541$20,443
2023 $11,983$18,843$20,796
2024 $12,200$18,738$20,989
2025 $12,419$18,955$22,300

Expensive Graduate Schools in Illinois

University of Chicago$68,652
Northwestern University$54,655
School of the Art Institute of Chicago$49,649
Midwestern University-Downers Grove$48,006
Adler University$47,179

Inexpensive Graduate Schools in Illinois

Columbia College Chicago$2,544
Urbana Theological Seminary$3,030
American Islamic College$4,650
Hebrew Theological College$5,550
Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago$8,000
*Based on out-of-state tuition rates of 4-year colleges

Books & Supplies cost

The average books & supplies cost of Illinois colleges in 2025 is $1,210. The books & supplies cost rose 102.83% from last year. The following table and chart describes the 2025 books & supplies cost and cost changes over last 5 years.

2025 Average Books & Supplies cost for Illinois Universities and Colleges
Books & Supplies
2021$1,175
2022$1,150
2023$1,150
2024$1,176
2025$1,210

Average Living cost

The average living cost of Illinois colleges in 2025 is $16,641 when a student lives on campus such as dormitory and college apartment and $17,198 living off campus. 67 schools have on-campus living facilities in Illinois State. The on-campus living cost rose 105.12% and off-campus cost rose 106.18% from last year.

The following table and chart describes the 2025 living cost and compares to last 5 years.

2025 Average Living cost for Illinois Universities and Colleges
On-CampusOff-Campus
2021$14,046$13,980
2022$14,398$14,310
2023$15,088$15,105
2024$15,831$16,198
2025$16,641$17,198
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