The University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) is the smallest and newest school in the University of Illinois system. Formerly known as Sangamon State, it originally offered only upper-level and graduate courses. The University of Illinois acquired it and renamed it in 1995.
The university has nearly 50 undergraduate programs, and over 50 minors. At the bachelor’s degree-level, business and computer science draw in the most students, and UIS’s public affairs programs have always been strong.
It's a relatively small school for a public university. It has about 4,600 students, and roughly half are undergraduates. Less than half of students live on campus, with most opting to commute or take classes online.
The school’s location in the state capital helps students snag government and nonprofit internships. Its Center for State Policy and Leadership provides a forum for research and discussion on policy issues, and Emiquon Field Station allows students to work alongside scientists who are working on wetlands restorations.
The school is among the best for affordability, according to Money's analysis. The estimated net price of a degree (not including state or federal aid), is under $80,000, and approximately three-quarters of undergraduate students receive some type of financial aid.
