2026 Best Value Management Science Schools in Illinois
[Management Science](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/management-science-quantitative-methods/management-science/) 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 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for management science students.
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2026 Best Value Management Science Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the management science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Management Science Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for management science in Illinois. 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. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $17,750. Management Science graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $68,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Governors State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management science, landing the #2 spot this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $51,711. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
A rank of #3 makes Northern Illinois University one of the best values for management science. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Management Science graduates carry a median of $21,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $51,128. That is a strong return on a $21,600 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $21,000. Early-career management science graduates make about $72,316. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in management science, landing the #5 spot this year. Eastern Illinois University is a large public school located in the town of Charleston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, while out-of-state students pay about $15,859. Management Science graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $42,500. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
National Louis University placed #6 among the best values for management science. National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,245. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $26,094. Early-career management science graduates make about $59,084. Set against $26,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Chicago landed the #7 spot for management science value this year. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $15,854. Management Science graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $190,915 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale placed #8 among the best values for management science. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public school located in the town of Carbondale. Students from in state pay about $13,334 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $42,711. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University placed #9 among the best values for management science. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $55,718. Set against $24,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Set in the suburb of Normal, Illinois State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,410, with out-of-state students paying around $26,058. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Illinois State University generally make around $47,553. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Quincy University came in at #11 for value in management science this year. Located in the town of Quincy, Quincy University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,140. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $26,074. Early-career management science graduates make about $46,414. That is a strong return on a $26,074 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $52,202. Management Science graduates carry a median of $26,774 in student loans. Early-career management science graduates make about $71,315. Set against $26,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Elmhurst College came in at #13 for value in management science this year. Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Elmhurst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,955. Management Science graduates carry a median of $22,400 in student loans. Management Science graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $88,979 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value management science schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,315. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $25,000. Early-career management science graduates make about $48,715. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Bradley University placed #15 among the best values for management science. Located in the city of Peoria, Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the management science program here. Management Science graduates of Bradley University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University came in at #16 for value in management science this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Typical student debt for management science graduates is $16,616. Early-career management science graduates make about $140,444. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
Depaul University placed #17 among the best values for management science. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,405 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,500 to complete the management science program here. Early-career management science graduates make about $62,702. Set against $24,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago placed #18 among the best values for management science. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the management science program here. Soon after graduation, management science degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $58,568. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
