Knox College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Knox College charges a net price of $24,595/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,380. Graduates earn a median $54,820 ten years after entry, $6,460/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 15.2 years — a 20-year net return of $30,820, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Knox College's 15.2-year payback ranks #969 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 24% of them, and #38 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $24,595/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $98,380 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,820 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $6,460/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 15.2 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $30,820 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Knox College's own numbers. Net price $24,595 × 4 years = $98,380 total. Median earnings $54,820 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $6,460 a year of premium. $98,380 ÷ $6,460 = 15.2 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $30,820. 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 Knox College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 49% of the $54,820 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Knox College students graduate?
68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $98,380 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $144,676 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Knox College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $24,595 net price runs $10,845 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $43,380 more across the full degree.