Most Affordable Online Bachelor's Degrees in Illinois 2025

Earning an undergraduate degree is often the first step to achieving career goals, but not everyone has the time or money to attend an on-campus bachelor's degree program. Illinois students can find full-time and part-time enrollment opportunities in affordable bachelor's degrees online offered at colleges and universities across the state.

Learn more about Illinois's cheapest online bachelor's degrees in business administration, criminal justice, computer science, and more.

How Much Does an Online Bachelor's Degree Cost in Illinois?

An online bachelor's degree with 120 credit hours costs around $65,689 in total, based on average tuition costs. However, some more affordable online bachelor's degree programs have lower tuition rates, costing about $42,000. Online learners can also qualify for financial aid programs from federal and state governments as well as third-party and institutional programs.

Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree Programs in Illinois

Learners in Illinois can find cheap bachelor's degrees online from high-quality schools across the Prairie State. These schools offer online degree programs at the undergraduate level, but many also offer opportunities for graduate students to continue their studies more affordably.

Researching cheap online colleges that accept financial aid can help you find the most affordable degree program for your educational and career goals.

1. University of Illinois Springfield

The online school at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) offers 31 different online undergraduate programs. Students can choose from public and nonprofit administration, management information systems, and communication. UIS students can take advantage of multiple start dates throughout the year to begin their degree program when they are ready.

Average in-state tuition: $316.75 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $637.25 per credit hour

Financial aid: UIS has a pilot program called the Prairie Promise, which can cover full-tuition costs for eligible learners. Students can also apply for federal and state grants and scholarships.

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

2. Western Illinois University

There are 19 online bachelor's degrees available from Western Illinois University (WIU). Prospective students can choose from economics, human resources management, supply chain management, and more. WIU also offers accelerated online master's degree programs where students can begin earning graduate credits while they earn their bachelor's.

Average in-state tuition: $343.23 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $343.23 per credit hour

Financial aid: WIU is one of many colleges that offers scholarships for online students � this is based on the type of education department. WIU also accepts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and federal aid programs, including grants and scholarships.

Accreditation: HLC

3. Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University (EIU) has 12 undergraduate online education programs, including full degrees and degree completion programs. Transfer students can use an associate degree or other qualifying credits from a community college or university to get a head start on online bachelor's degrees.

Programs include psychology, public health, and communication. There are also nine different minor options that students can use to expand their learning experiences.

Average in-state tuition: $347.63 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $347.63 per credit hour

Financial aid: EIU offers scholarships to employees of its corporate partners, as well as need-based and merit-based scholarships for new, returning, and transfer students.

Accreditation: HLC

4. Governors State University

Governors State University (GSU) has three undergraduate online learning programs. Students can select from a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies or business and applied science, or an RN-to-BSN nursing program. These programs use online courses, but students can elect to take some courses in person to fit into their schedules.

Average in-state tuition: $373 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $373 per credit hour

Financial aid: GSU accepts the FAFSA, including federal grants and scholarships. Eight institutional scholarships are also offered to different types of students.

Accreditation: HLC

5. Moody Bible Institute

The Moody Bible Institute, also called the Moody Theological Seminary, offers five online bachelor's degree programs. Due to the school's nature, all of these degrees are directly related to Christian ministry. Subjects include ministry leadership, theological studies, and cultural engagement. Moody also offers online master's programs for students pursuing higher degrees for their faith-based careers.

Average in-state tuition: $411 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $411 per credit hour

Financial aid: Moody Bible Institute offers scholarships and grants specifically for its online students, in addition to federal aid via FAFSA.

Accreditation: HLC

6. University of Illinois Chicago

The three online bachelor's programs at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) include two degree completion programs and an RN-to-BSN program. UIC's two degree completion programs include business administration and health information management. Students with a two-year degree or equivalent credits can apply for these programs to finish their degrees, which can save money and time compared to a standard program.

Average in-state tuition: $418 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $418 per credit hour

Financial aid: The UIC Aspire Grant provides free tuition to students from families with incomes under $75,000 per year. Multiple other programs are tailored for transfer students and returning undergraduate students.

Accreditation: HLC

7. McKendree University

Online programs at McKendree University are delivered in an asynchronous format to promote flexibility. It has seven online bachelor's degree programs, including healthcare management, criminal justice, and business administration.

The business administration degree offers nine concentrations for students looking to tailor their learning. These concentration options include accounting, marketing, and human resources management. McKendree students can also add one of eleven minors to their degree.

Average in-state tuition: $420 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $420 per credit hour

Financial aid: Students can submit their FAFSA forms to receive federal aid.

Accreditation: HLC

8. University of St. Francis

The University of St. Francis has award-winning online programs from top-ranking publications, including U.S. News & World Report. These degree programs are available in an asynchronous format that uses discussion forums to promote interactions between students and faculty. The online degree options include healthcare management, supply chain management, and business administration.

Average in-state tuition: $425 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $425 per credit hour

Financial aid: The University of St. Francis provides $16.7 million in institutional funds each year in the form of scholarships and grants, in addition to accepting FAFSA.

Accreditation: HLC

9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has three online undergraduate programs. These degrees include early childhood education and environmental sustainability, as well as a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). These degrees are formatted as degree completion programs and require students to have an associate's degree or equivalent credits before transferring.

Average in-state tuition: $472 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $472 per credit hour

Financial aid: Financial aid is available through the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) for degree-seeking students in the fall and spring semesters. Students can also submit their FAFSA forms and qualify for federal grants and scholarships.

Accreditation: HLC

10. Dominican University

Dominican University (DU) offers 12 undergraduate programs through its online higher education program. Degree options include business administration, legal studies, and informatics. These programs include accelerated options where coursework is completed in eight-week sessions. DU also accepts transfer credits and prior learning assessments to further speed up your degree.

Average in-state tuition: $500 per credit hour

Average out-of-state tuition: $500 per credit hour

Financial aid: All students at DU can submit their FAFSA to qualify for federal grants and loans and apply for merit-based and need-based scholarships from DU and third-party organizations.

Accreditation: HLC

How We Rank Schools

We used four strict criteria when evaluating these Illinois colleges to ensure we recommend online quality education. These criteria look at costs, reputation, and more for a holistic evaluation of each school and its degrees.

• Accreditation: We only selected schools that have accreditation, in this case from the Higher Learning Commission. This means your degree will be respected by employers and can lead to graduate programs.
• Affordability: Affordability includes two factors: tuition costs and financial aid. We only picked online colleges that accept the Pell Grant and ones with average tuition costs under $500 per credit hour. Many of these schools also offer scholarships specifically for online students.
• Program reputation and quality: Reputation and quality go beyond accreditation to include awards from third-party publications, like U.S. News & World Report.
• Online format: Finally, all of these degrees are offered in fully online formats. Although some have hybrid or on-campus options, students can earn these degrees without ever stepping on campus.

FAQs About the Cheapest Bachelor's Degrees in Illinois

Illinois students have access to many online bachelor's programs, but it's common to have questions. Some of the top questions are about value, costs, and non-tuition fees.

What Is the Cheapest Online Bachelor's Degree in Illinois?

The cheapest upfront online bachelor's degrees in Illinois can be earned at the University of Illinois Springfield. Although UIS has the lowest up-front tuition costs, other affordable degrees are available. Students can also consider online colleges with tuition payment plans offering diverse financial aid packages to help lower costs.

What Is the Cheapest Way To Get a Bachelor's Degree?

The cheapest way to earn a bachelor's degree is to find online programs from public schools. You should submit your FAFSA yearly and find online colleges that accept transfer credits to reduce your time and costs.

Is Online College Worth It?

Online college is worth it for most students. Online degrees are generally more affordable, flexible alternatives to on-campus degrees, even though they have the same curriculum and outcomes.

What Other Fees Should I Expect for an Online Bachelor's Degree?

Tuition is one cost for online bachelor's degrees. Students should expect technology fees or other distance-based fees. Most fees for online learning are related to coordinating the third-party platforms used to deliver coursework and lectures.

Explore Online Bachelor's Degrees

Read our articles and school profiles to learn more about these Illinois colleges and online colleges in other states. Once you've narrowed down the best school and program for your goals, use our resources to reach out and start your application process today.