Augustana College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Augustana College charges a net price of $22,736/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,944. Graduates earn a median $62,971 ten years after entry, $14,611/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.2 years — a 20-year net return of $201,276, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Augustana College's 6.2-year payback ranks #536 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 58% of them, and #20 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $22,736/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $90,944 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $62,971 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $14,611/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $201,276 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Augustana College's own numbers. Net price $22,736 × 4 years = $90,944 total. Median earnings $62,971 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $14,611 a year of premium. $90,944 ÷ $14,611 = 6.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $201,276. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Augustana College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 43% of the $62,971 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Augustana College students graduate?
73% finish their degree. Spread the $90,944 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $124,581 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Augustana College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $22,736 net price runs $8,986 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $35,944 more across the full degree.