College of DuPage — ROI, Cost & Payback
College of DuPage charges a net price of $7,401/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $14,802. Median earnings ten years after entry are $46,909, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, College of DuPage does not clear its cost — it ranks #50 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $7,401/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $14,802 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $46,909 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$1,451/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $10,410 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$43,822 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on College of DuPage's own numbers. Net price $7,401 × 2 years = $14,802 total. Median earnings $46,909 fall $1,451 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $14,802 bill in about 1.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do College of DuPage students graduate with?
A median $10,410 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $46,909 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of College of DuPage students graduate?
25% finish their degree — 75% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $14,802 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $59,208 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is College of DuPage expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $7,401 net price runs $6,349 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $12,698 less across the full degree.