Monmouth College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Monmouth College charges a net price of $17,133/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $68,532. Graduates earn a median $51,110 ten years after entry, $2,750/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 24.9 years — a 20-year net return of -$13,532, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Monmouth College's 24.9-year payback ranks #1,108 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 14% of them, and #45 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $17,133/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $68,532 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $51,110 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $2,750/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $27,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 24.9 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$13,532 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Monmouth College's own numbers. Net price $17,133 × 4 years = $68,532 total. Median earnings $51,110 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $2,750 a year of premium. $68,532 ÷ $2,750 = 24.9 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$13,532. 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 Monmouth College students graduate with?
A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 53% of the $51,110 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Monmouth College students graduate?
65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $68,532 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $105,434 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Monmouth College expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $17,133 net price runs $3,383 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $13,532 more across the full degree.