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Private nonprofit · 4-year

Judson University

Elgin, Illinois

53
C
DR Rating
DegreeReturn Rating — Fair value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Strong return
+$101,198 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.

4.5 yrs
Break-even
+121%
10-year ROI
$63,454
Median earnings as of 2024
71% of Judson University students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$18,558
Average net price / yr as of 2024
$63,454
Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024
$43,382
Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024
$25,000
Median debt at graduation as of 2024
60%
Graduation rate as of 2024
71%
Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024
79%
Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024
59%
Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$101,198
After 10 years
$285,738
After 20 years
$470,278
After 30 years
$654,818
After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender
Women
$51,384
Men
$64,278

20% gap between the two groups

By family-income background
From lower-income families
$51,293
From higher-income families
$61,263

16% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)
Dependent students
$54,679
Independent students
$58,268

6% gap between the two groups

36%
First-generation students
55%
Take federal student loans
90%
Born in the U.S.
Who studies here
White 42%Hispanic 26%Asian 2%Black 15%Other 15%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family incomeAverage net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k$15,701
$30k–$48k$18,010
$48k–$75k$17,079
$75k–$110k$21,124
$110k+$21,515

How Judson University compares

This college against the Illinois and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Judson University students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

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Best-paying majors at Judson University

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

MajorCredentialEarnings (5 yr)Median debt10-yr ROIVerdict
Business Administration, Management and OperationsAssociate's$74,689$25,000+542%Strong return
ArchitectureCertificate$68,632+218%Strong return
ArchitectureAssociate's$58,276$26,442+184%Strong return
Human Services, GeneralAssociate's$45,064$28,345-99%Poor return

Calculate your own ROI

Adjust the assumptions for your situation — the verdict, break-even and chart update live.

ROI at Judson University

Or pick your to set cost

Estimates from federal data; your result will vary. How this works.

10-yr net gain
Break-even
10-yr ROI

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Admissions & profile

48%
Admission rate
1,039
Average SAT
22
Median ACT
708
Undergraduates

Location

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.

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