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2026 Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy & religious studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools
Leading the list is Northern Illinois University, our #1 best value for philosophy & religious studies in Illinois. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,060. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $25,209. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. That is a strong return on a $25,209 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Hebrew Theological College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Skokie, Hebrew Theological College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,150. Median earnings reach $33,291 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 57%.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a great value for students pursuing a degree in philosophy & religious studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Students borrow a median of $18,750 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $21,824 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,750 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for philosophy & religious studies. 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. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $22,641 in student loans. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $81,002. Set against $22,641 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Wheaton College Illinois one of the best values for philosophy & religious studies. Located in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $23,685 in student loans. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
ADBLOCK #101
Depaul University earned the #6 position for value in philosophy & religious studies this year. 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. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $25,310. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $25,530. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $58,568 early in their careers. Set against $25,530 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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 · 47 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Philosophy & Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
