2026 Best Value Value Schools in Illinois
[Value](/majors/agriculture-ag-operations/veterinary-animal-health-technologies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for value students.
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2026 Best Value Value Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in value, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Value Schools
Our analysis ranked Joliet Junior College the best value for a degree in value in Illinois. Joliet Junior College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Joliet. In-state tuition and fees average $4,530, compared with $13,800 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $9,562 to complete the value program here. Value graduates of Joliet Junior College earn a median of $36,988 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in value will find it at Parkland College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,284, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Typical student debt for value graduates is $10,168. Value graduates of Parkland College earn a median of $39,246 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $10,168 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Heartland Community College one of the best values for value. Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Normal. In-state tuition and fees average $5,550, while out-of-state students pay about $13,110. Typical student debt for value graduates is $13,266. Soon after graduation, value degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Fox College Inc is a great value for students pursuing a degree in value, landing the #4 spot this year. Fox College Inc is a small private for-profit school located in the suburb of Tinley Park. In-state tuition and fees average $17,670. Value graduates carry a median of $14,722 in student loans. Value graduates of Fox College Inc earn a median of $36,853 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fox College Inc admits about 70% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College one of the best values for value. Located in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,699. Students borrow a median of $18,007 to complete the value program here. Early-career value graduates make about $30,486. Set against $18,007 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
