Roosevelt University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Roosevelt University charges a net price of $20,194/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $80,776. Graduates earn a median $48,712 ten years after entry, $352/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 229.5 years — a 20-year net return of -$73,736, a weak return — the cost is hard to justify on earnings alone. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Roosevelt University's 229.5-year payback ranks #1,258 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 2% of them, and #48 of 116 in Illinois.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,194/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $80,776 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $48,712 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $352/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $22,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 229.5 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$73,736 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Roosevelt University's own numbers. Net price $20,194 × 4 years = $80,776 total. Median earnings $48,712 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $352 a year of premium. $80,776 ÷ $352 = 229.5 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves -$73,736. 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 Roosevelt University students graduate with?
A median $22,000 in federal loans among completers, or 45% of the $48,712 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Roosevelt University students graduate?
35% finish their degree — 65% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $80,776 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $230,789 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Roosevelt University expensive compared with other Illinois colleges?
Its $20,194 net price runs $6,444 above the $13,750 median across the 116 Illinois colleges we profile, or $25,776 more across the full degree.