Illinois has 245 active colleges and universities: 63 public and 182 private, teaching a combined 740,314 students. Average undergraduate tuition and fees for 2024-25 were $19,352 in-state and $20,985 out-of-state, with a statewide average acceptance rate of 74.11%.
Those tuition figures are the reason to read on. Illinois charges roughly $8,000 a year less in-state than Massachusetts, and the gap between in-state and out-of-state here is barely $1,600. For a state that contains one of the world's most selective universities and a major global city, Illinois is unusually affordable, and the housing market is a large part of why.
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How Many Colleges Are in Illinois?
| Category | Count |
| Total institutions | 245 |
| Public | 63 |
| Private, not-for-profit | 87 |
| Private, for-profit | 95 |
| Total enrolment | 740,314 students |
| Average acceptance rate | 74.11% |
| Average graduation rate | 58.07% |
The 245 figure is inflated by 95 for-profit institutions, many of them small and vocational. If you are choosing a four-year degree, the real field is the 63 public institutions plus the 87 private non-profits.
That statewide 74.11% acceptance rate is close to meaningless on its own. The spread inside it runs from roughly 5% at the University of Chicago to 88.2% at Illinois State, and at UIUC the rate varies more inside the university than it does between most institutions.
What Colleges in Illinois Cost
| * | In-state | Out-of-state |
| Average undergraduate tuition and fees, 2024-25 | $19,352 | $20,985 |
Two things stand out.
The in-state and out-of-state gap is small. About $1,600 on average, against several thousand at most state systems. That is partly because private institutions, which charge the same regardless of residency, make up most of the count.
The public and private gap is enormous. Illinois State's published rates and the University of Chicago's roughly $65,000 tuition sit at opposite ends of a very wide range. A Loyola Chicago student faces a total cost of attendance near $75,000 before aid, which we break down in the Loyola University Chicago tuition guide.
Housing is where Illinois genuinely wins. Chicago student rent runs roughly $750 to $1,300 a month for a shared room, against $1,100 to $1,800 in Boston. Over a year that difference is several thousand dollars, and it is the single strongest financial argument for studying here rather than on the East Coast. Compare with our guide to colleges in Massachusetts if you are choosing between the two.
Flagged for review. Rent moves every leasing cycle and these are 2026 listing ranges. Confirm against current listings before budgeting.
Acceptance Rates at Illinois Colleges
| Institution | Acceptance rate | Cycle | Guide |
| University of Chicago | About 5% | Recent | UChicago acceptance rate |
| UIUC | 36.6% | Class of 2029 | UIUC acceptance rate |
| DePaul University | 75.9% | 2024-25 | DePaul acceptance rate |
| Illinois State University | 88.2% | 2024-25 | Illinois State acceptance rate |
The number that misleads most in this state is UIUC's. Illinois admits directly by major, so the 36.6% headline covers a range from roughly 7.2% for Computer Science as a first choice to well above 50% in the least competitive colleges. If you are applying to CS at Urbana-Champaign, you are applying to a programme more selective than most Ivy League universities, and a 36.6% figure will badly misprice your chances.
A sensible Illinois application list spans the range rather than clustering at the top: one reach, two or three in the 35% to 75% band, and one at Illinois State or a community college with a transfer pathway.
Where Students Live in Illinois
Three areas account for most student housing in the state, and they are very different markets.
Chicago. The University of Chicago in Hyde Park, DePaul in Lincoln Park and the Loop, UIC on the Near West Side, Loyola in Rogers Park, Northwestern just north in Evanston, and the School of the Art Institute downtown. Rent varies sharply by neighbourhood, and the CTA is what makes a cheaper neighbourhood viable. Browse student accommodation in Chicago.
Typical 2026 student rent by area:
| Neighbourhood | Typical monthly cost |
| Lakeview, shared | $750 to $1,300 |
| Hyde Park, shared | $800 to $1,300 |
| Lincoln Park | $750 to $3,200 depending on room type |
| The Loop and South Loop, studio or one bedroom | $1,600 to $2,500 |
Urbana-Champaign. UIUC dominates a twin-city college town roughly two and a half hours south of Chicago. Rent is far below Chicago, the campus is walkable, and purpose-built student housing is plentiful because the university is the town's main industry. See student accommodation in Urbana and the wider Urbana-Champaign area, plus our guide to HERE Champaign.
Normal and Bloomington. Illinois State sits in Normal, a genuine college town with the lowest student rent of the three areas. Student accommodation in Normal is the practical option for students prioritising cost.
Chicago's Lease Market Is Not Boston's
If you have read about the Boston market, unlearn it. Chicago does not run on a single September 1 turnover date. Leases start throughout the year, nine-month and academic-year terms are more widely available, and the pressure to sign six months ahead is lower.
What to know instead:
- Security deposit rules are strict and in your favour. Chicago landlords must return a security deposit within 45 days of move-out. Some buildings charge a non-refundable move-in fee instead of a deposit, which is a different thing with different protections. Ask which one you are paying.
- Photograph everything at move-in. It is the only reliable protection for your deposit, whatever the local rules say.
- Nine-month leases exist here. If you go home for the summer, ask. Paying twelve months for nine months of use is a large avoidable cost, and Chicago's market accommodates it better than most.
- The CTA decides your budget. A room in Rogers Park or Pilsen on a direct line can be several hundred dollars a month cheaper than Lincoln Park, and the commute difference is often twenty minutes.
Before you sign anything, take our apartment tour checklist to viewings, and if you are coming from abroad read renting without a credit history in the USA and co-signing student leases in the USA early, because a guarantor takes time to arrange.
On Campus or Off?
Most Illinois four-year institutions guarantee first-year housing and many require it. After that, Chicago's private market is competitive with university housing on price, which is not true in Boston or New York.
Our comparison of college dorms versus off-campus housing works through the trade-off, and how to book on-campus housing at US universities covers the application process. If you may leave for a summer internship, read what subletting means before you sign a twelve-month lease.
Who Illinois Suits
A strong fit if you want a major global city at well below East Coast housing costs, you are targeting a specific UIUC programme, you want a large public system with genuine price advantages for residents, or you value being able to find a nine-month lease.
Think carefully if you are applying to UIUC Computer Science without a backup, dislike cold winters, or need a compact campus. Chicago institutions are spread across a large city and your commute is a real daily cost in time.
The community college route is strong here. Illinois has a well-developed transfer system into the public universities, and it is the most effective way to cut the cost of a four-year degree. See the best community colleges in the US.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Illinois?
There are 245 active colleges and universities in Illinois: 63 public and 182 private, teaching 740,314 students in total.
What are the best colleges in Illinois?
The state includes the University of Chicago, Northwestern, UIUC, UIC, DePaul, Loyola Chicago and Illinois State. Best depends on your subject and budget, and at UIUC it depends heavily on which major you apply to.
How much does college cost in Illinois?
Average 2024-25 undergraduate tuition and fees were $19,352 in-state and $20,985 out-of-state. The in-state and out-of-state gap is unusually small, but the public and private gap is very large.
What is the average acceptance rate for colleges in Illinois?
About 74.11% statewide, but the range runs from roughly 5% at the University of Chicago to 88.2% at Illinois State.
Which city in Illinois is best for students?
Chicago has the most institutions and the most variety. Urbana-Champaign is a walkable college town built around UIUC. Normal has the lowest student rent of the three.
Is Chicago cheaper than Boston for students?
On housing, yes and by a clear margin. A shared room in Chicago runs roughly $750 to $1,300 a month against $1,100 to $1,800 in Boston. Average Illinois in-state tuition is also about $8,000 lower.
Do Chicago leases all start on the same date?
No. Unlike Boston's September 1 cycle, Chicago leases start throughout the year and nine-month or academic-year terms are more widely available.
How long do Chicago landlords have to return a security deposit?
Within 45 days of move-out under Chicago rules. Some buildings charge a non-refundable move-in fee instead, which carries different protections, so confirm which applies.
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The Bottom Line
The colleges in Illinois offer something unusual: a top-tier global city, a major public research system and genuinely affordable housing in the same state. Ignore the 74.11% statewide acceptance rate and look at the institution, and at UIUC look at the major rather than the university. Then use the housing advantage deliberately, because a shared room in Chicago at $900 a month is the quiet reason an Illinois degree costs less than an equivalent one on the East Coast.