These Illinois Schools Are Among 'Best Colleges For Your Money'

Second only to buying a house, college is now the next largest expenditure for most American families — and Money magazine is taking a look at where you can get the best bang for your buck. Four Illinois schools ranked among Money's 2017 "Best Colleges for Your Money." The list takes a look at factors, including net cost to attend and average early career earnings for graduates.

Money said the ranking is a “new, uniquely practical analysis” that draws on research and advice from some of the nation’s leading experts on education quality, financing and value.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was Illinois' highest-ranked university, coming in at No. 22. According to Money's 2017 Best Colleges For Your Money ranking, here's why:

• Estimated net cost without financial aid: $31,400
• Estimated net cost with average state grant: $18,200
• Percent receiving need-based assistance: 38
• Percent receiving merit-based assistance: 5
• Average early-career earnings for graduates: $57,700

Coming in at No. 54 on the list is the University of Chicago:

• Estimated net cost without financial aid: $74,000
• Estimated net cost with average state grant: $35,800
• Percent receiving need-based assistance: 43
• Percent receiving merit-based assistance: N/A
• Average early-career earnings for graduates: $54,700

The University of Illinois at Chicago ranked at No. 96:

• Estimated net cost without financial aid: $31,200
• Estimated net cost with average state grant: $12,400
• Percent receiving need-based assistance: 62
• Percent receiving merit-based assistance: 2
• Average early-career earnings for graduates: $52,100

At No. 99 is the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago:

• Estimated net cost without financial aid: $65,100
• Estimated net cost with average state grant: $25,200
• Percent receiving need-based assistance: 54
• Percent receiving merit-based assistance: 6
• Average early-career earnings for graduates: $59,400

Northwestern University in Evanston didn't make the top 100 but came in at No. 103 on the list.

Nationwide, Money found the best value for your money at the following universities:

1. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
2. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, New York City
3. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
4. University of California-Berkeley
5. University of California-Los Angeles
6. Stanford University, Stanford, California
7. University of California-Irvine
8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
9. University of California-Davis
10. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

View the full list and see how other schools in Illinois ranked.

University of Chicago/Photo by Robert Kozloff