Illinois Central College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Illinois Central College charges a net price of $12,961/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $51,844. Median earnings ten years after entry are $37,366, 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, Illinois Central College does not clear its cost — it ranks #94 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) | $12,961/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $51,844 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $37,366 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$10,994/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,900 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$271,724 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Illinois Central College's own numbers. Net price $12,961 × 4 years = $51,844 total. Median earnings $37,366 fall $10,994 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 $51,844 bill in about 5.2 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Illinois Central College students graduate with?
A median $8,900 in federal loans among completers, or 24% of the $37,366 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Illinois Central College students graduate?
49% finish their degree — 51% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $51,844 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $105,804 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Illinois Central College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $12,961 net price runs $789 below the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, and $3,156 less across the full degree.