The educational landscape of **Chicago, Illinois** represents a diverse ecosystem of 1 institutions, ranging from large-scale public research hubs like University of Chicago to specialized private colleges. For the 2026 academic cycle, Chicago has emerged as a prime target for value-seeking applicants. Our proprietary analysis of IPEDS data shows an average in-state tuition of $64,260, reflecting the region's economic standing within the Illinois higher education sector.
Our proprietary index reveals how hard your SAT score works in Chicago.
Annual savings compared to the **Illinois state average**.
A 1450+ SAT score could save you $16,065/year.
Navigating admissions in Chicago requires a dual-pronged focus on residency strategy and SAT-based merit aid. Chicago is categorized by Extreme academic rigor, which translates to a hyper-competitive landscape where SAT scores above 1500 are often the baseline for merit aid. Applicants should focus on the **SAT-ROI Index** to identify specific universities in Chicago where their current score yields the highest financial leverage. With a **SAT-ROI Index of 402**, Chicago outperforms the Illinois state average (342). This identifies the region as a **"Value Pillar"**, where students can achieve higher academic returns per SAT point compared to neighboring regions.
In Chicago, the SAT-ROI Index measures how much tuition weight your SAT score can offset. A higher index means your score has more power to trigger merit aid, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
With an academic rigor rating of Extreme, Chicago universities range from highly selective. On average, students need to target the top 25% of the local score range for the best financial outcomes.
Chicago's average ROI index is 402, while the state average is 342. This makes it a higher-value region than average.
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