Loyola University Chicago vs University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Break-even | Strong return |
| 10-year ROI | +55% | +342% |
| 10-year net gain | $84,541 | $220,734 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $68,766 | $73,526 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $55,802 | $48,051 |
| Average net price | $36,079 | $14,355 |
| Median debt | $24,157 | $19,500 |
| Break-even | 6.4 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| Graduation rate | 73% | 85% |
| Admission rate | 82% | 42% |
Loyola University Chicago
Break-even
+$84,541 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Strong return
+$220,734 over 10 years
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.