2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Illinois
[Electrical Engineering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for electrical engineering students.
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2026 Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in electrical engineering, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Electrical Engineering Schools
University Of Illinois At Chicago earned the #1 spot for value among electrical engineering schools in Illinois. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $83,287. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Northern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Electrical Engineering graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $74,442. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value electrical engineering schools. Located in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,113. Soon after graduation, electrical engineering degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $79,617. That is a strong return on a $25,113 median debt. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in electrical engineering, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,600 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $99,772. That is a strong return on a $21,600 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Students looking for strong value in electrical engineering will find it at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,334. Students borrow a median of $19,750 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Electrical Engineering graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn a median of $68,670 early in their careers. Set against $19,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Illinois University Carbondale admits about 87% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best values for electrical engineering. Located in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $52,202 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for electrical engineering graduates is $25,500. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $69,966. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Northwestern University placed #7 among the best values for electrical engineering. 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. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the electrical engineering program here. Early-career electrical engineering graduates make about $78,551. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
More Electrical Engineering Rankings
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
