2026 Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools in Illinois

[Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences](/majors/health-care-professions/pharmacy-pharmaceutical-sciences/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences schools.
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2026 Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences Schools
For return on investment in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, no school beat University Of Illinois At Chicago this year. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates is $20,115. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $91,467. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Chicago State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates is $43,322. Early-career pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences graduates make about $69,635. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Students looking for strong value in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences will find it at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, which ranked #3. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public school located in the suburb of Edwardsville. Students from in state pay about $12,092 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,917 to complete the pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences program here. Pharmacy/pharmaceutical Sciences graduates of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville earn a median of $119,267 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville admits about 98% of applicants.
Roosevelt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete the pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, pharmacy/pharmaceutical sciences degree recipients from Roosevelt University generally make around $97,844. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.