2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in Illinois

[Actuarial Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/actuarial-science/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong actuarial science education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 11 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for actuarial science students.
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2026 Best Value Actuarial Science Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in actuarial science, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Actuarial Science Schools
Leading the list is Northern Illinois University, our #1 best value for actuarial science in Illinois. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans. Actuarial Science graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $52,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 70%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete the actuarial science program here. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $72,316. Set against $21,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Illinois College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Jacksonville, Illinois College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,676. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $26,922. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $41,184. That is a strong return on a $26,922 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Roosevelt University earned it the #4 place for actuarial science. Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the actuarial science program here. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $48,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roosevelt University admits about 97% of applicants.
Elmhurst College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in actuarial science, landing the #5 spot this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $88,979. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Bradley University came in at #6 for value in actuarial science this year. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,160. Typical student debt for actuarial science graduates is $26,380. Soon after graduation, actuarial science degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $54,513. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Depaul University earned the #7 position for value in actuarial science this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Actuarial Science graduates carry a median of $24,500 in student loans. Early-career actuarial science graduates make about $62,702. That is a strong return on a $24,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.