<p>UIUC is not going to be affordable - the cost of attendance is about $27,000 or more (depending on your major), and there’s very little aid available.</p>
<p>The other state universities are not a whole lot cheaper for residential students.</p>
<p>What can your parents realistically afford? That’s the starting point. It might come down to, realistically, two years at a community college, working and saving money, then two years at a state school living off-campus.</p>