2026 Best Value Neurosciences Schools in Illinois

[Neurosciences](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/neurobiology-and-neurosciences/neurosciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong neurosciences education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 16 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value neurosciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Neurosciences Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in neurosciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Neurosciences Schools
For return on investment in neurosciences, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $17,562 to complete the neurosciences program here. Early-career neurosciences graduates make about $26,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dominican University earned it the #2 place for neurosciences. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Dominican University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $38,828. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete the neurosciences program here. Neurosciences graduates of Dominican University earn a median of $45,546 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,236 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Chicago came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value neurosciences schools. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the neurosciences program here. Soon after graduation, neurosciences degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $37,246. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Northwestern University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value neurosciences schools. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Neurosciences graduates carry a median of $16,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, neurosciences degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $35,334. Set against $16,948 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in neurosciences will find it at Lake Forest College, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,402 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the neurosciences program here. Neurosciences graduates of Lake Forest College earn a median of $41,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Depaul University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value neurosciences schools. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the neurosciences program here. Neurosciences graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,226 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #7 spot for neurosciences value this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the neurosciences program here. Neurosciences graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $26,251 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
More Neurosciences Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.