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McKendree University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Lebanon, IL · 1,752 students

The verdict

McKendree University charges a net price of $24,717/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $98,868. Graduates earn a median $58,572 ten years after entry, $10,212/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 9.7 years — a 20-year net return of $105,372, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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McKendree University's 9.7-year payback ranks #777 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 39% of them, and #31 of 116 in Illinois.

Better ROI than 39% of US colleges#777 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$24,717
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$58,572
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
9.7 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
72%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
McKendree University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$24,717/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$98,868our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$58,572Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$10,212/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$23,250Scorecard, 2026
Payback9.7 yrsour math
20-year net return$105,372our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on McKendree University's own numbers. Net price $24,717 × 4 years = $98,868 total. Median earnings $58,572 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $10,212 a year of premium. $98,868 ÷ $10,212 = 9.7 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $105,372. 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 McKendree University students graduate with?

A median $23,250 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $58,572 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of McKendree University students graduate?

53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $98,868 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $186,543 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is McKendree University expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?

Its $24,717 net price runs $10,967 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $43,868 more across the full degree.

McKendree University: frequently asked questions

Is McKendree University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. McKendree University charges $24,717/yr after aid ($98,868 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $58,572 ten years out — $10,212/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 9.7 years and returns $105,372 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a McKendree University degree take to pay off?
About 9.7 years. We divide the $98,868 four-year net cost by the $10,212/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does McKendree University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $24,717/yr — about $98,868 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does McKendree University compare to other Illinois colleges?
It ranks #31 of 116 Illinois colleges we track by payback. Its $58,572 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $24,717 net price is above the national median of $16,902.